James Walter Klein ’61

Jim died Feb. 15, 2021, of complications of Parkinson’s disease after a short bout of COVID-19. 

Born in Newark, N.J., he came to us from Wayne Township Senior High School. At Princeton he majored in electrical engineering, played football, was in the Judo Club, and took his meals at Dial Lodge. His senior-year roommates were Mike Harris, Dick Greminger, and Will Somers.

After earning a graduate certification in power-systems engineering at Purdue, Jim embarked on a career that embraced a number of disciplines — nuclear power, software technology, mergers and acquisitions, and ultimately management. For many years he was a vice president with American Cyanamid and later joined McKesson/HBOC and Atlantic Health System. Along the way he earned an executive MBA at Columbia. He was an active volunteer in the greater Wayne community, serving on the boards of two hospitals and several human-services organizations. His guitar was a constant presence, whether in church or elsewhere.

Jim’s first marriage to Mary Lee ended in divorce. He is survived by his second wife, Guitty; his children, Ann ’86 and Greg; one grandson; and two siblings.