Gloria Klein
July 4, 2023

GLORIA KLEIN: Died peacefully at home, surrounded by family and love, on July 4, 2023 at age 94. She was born on December 7, 1928 in Philadelphia to Marcus Berman, a lawyer, and Jeanette Berman, a nurse. Her childhood was marked by loss, first with the death of her mother when she was 11, then her only sibling David in WWII when she was 16, and finally her father when she was 18. She graduated from the Philadelphia Museum School of Art, and soon after went on a blind date with Alfred Klein, who became her beloved husband for 72 years. Thank goodness for her boundless energy! She quickly put it to good use when her first pregnancy was a birthquake of triplets (Carol, Michael, and Judy.) She gave birth to Terri six years later. They moved to Pittsburgh in 1955 for Al’s job at Westinghouse. Gloria created a warm, welcoming household. She ensured that our family ate breakfast and dinner together, and there was always room for a friend or two. She was a celebrated cook and baker. She sewed many of her daughters’ clothes as well as her own. She made pottery in her tiny basement. The cookie jar she made was always full of her homemade cookies. She also cared for her invalid stepmother who lived with our family for decades. In the midst of all this, she returned to college to earn a teaching degree, and she worked as an art teacher in the Wilkinsburg Public Schools for many years. Upon retirement, she travelled the world with Al and continued making art. She reveled in family gatherings, including yearly beach trips to North Carolina with the ever-expanding Klein clan. At our last vacation together, there were four generations of Kleins bobbing about in the Atlantic Ocean. Just like the ocean, Gloria buoyed us all up. Only Parkinson’s disease could slow her down. Gloria’s husband Al died 4 months ago. Gloria is survived by her children Carol (Michael Larter) of Chapel Hill,NC; Michael (Louisa Barnhart) of China Village, Maine; Judy (Malcolm Dalglish) of Bloomington, IN; and Terri (Dan Gup) of Pittsburgh, PA; grandchildren Naomi, Tema, Ben, Mia, Nathan, Hannah, Sophia, Emily and Noah; and great grandchildren Miriam, Lila, Silas, Althea and Addison. We are deeply grateful to the marvelous caregivers whose attentive care allowed her to spend her last several years at home: Mili Pedreira, Barbara DeBruce, Jeanette Steele, Shannon Turk, Charlette Aziz, Monique Miles and Vivian Andrews. A memorial service will be held at Temple Sinai on Thursday, July 6 at 3 PM. If you wish, you may make memorial contributions to a cause meaningful to you. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chaple, Inc, family owned and operated. www.schugar.com

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I have so many wonderful memories living next door to Al and Gloria on Sharon Drive for so many years. We enjoyed talking over the fence, listening to Mark and Al compare their tomato plants and especially swimming laps at the Forest Hills Pool at noon. Al and Gloria are back together again. May their memories be a blessing.