June 30, 2023
Jean Hopley Klein
1930-2023
We are saddened by the recent passing of long-time education coordinator and supporter of the Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum (WMLM), Jean Klein. This week's Musings from Main focuses on just some her many contributions and achievements. Jean leaves a lasting legacy of scholarly research for our community, and she will be missed.
Jean Klein
Jean was born and raised in Fitchburg, MA. After high school, she went on to earn her BA from Elmira College in New York, and in 1974 (thankfully for us) she found herself in South Windsor, CT. Jean went on to immerse herself in her new community, and her passion for history led her to became an active and contributing member of the South Windsor Historic District Commission, the South Windsor Historical Society, and the Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum. In 1990, Jean was hired as the Friends’ part-time Education Coordinator.
Jean Klein was involved with the Friends for over a quarter of a century, and over that time she touched every corner of the institution.
In 1998, as part of her work with the Friends, Jean researched and complied an informational book about the Long Hill Quilt, giving a short history of penny squares, friendship quilts and detailed biographies for as many of the original, late-nineteenth century quilters as possible.
Explore Jean's Long Hill Quilt research online.
"When first meeting her you are quickly aware of her intellect and curiosity and soon know about her wealth of knowledge about South Windsor and the Connecticut River Valley"
- David Joy, 2015 Chair of the South Windsor Board of Education
Jean organized and displayed the mounted bird collection, and in 1999, researched and wrote a monograph, A Century of Birding, which offers a brief history of birding prefacing the profiles of three notable South Windsor birders, Dr. William Wood, Charles Watson Vibert, and Dwight Ellsworth Newberry. A Century of Birding is available in the research & reference area of Wood Memorial Library for patrons to read.
Jean organized countless programs on a wide variety of topics, including an annual series of lectures focusing on regional history.
She managed the digitization of the Barney Daley artifact collection and was instrumental in the arrangement and organization of the archives.
She revitalized the oral history group which records and transcribes oral histories of South Windsor residents.
"Follow what really grabs you in life. Follow your passion" - Jean Klein (2015)
Jean had another passion in addition to history; archaeology. It was Jean’s deep interest, knowledge and enthusiasm for archaeology that resulted in perhaps her most far-reaching contribution, the development of field trip programs for elementary grade students, guided by volunteer docents, whom she trained.
In her approach to all of these endeavors, Jean was driven by her own curiosity, demonstrated intellectual rigor in her research, and above all, shared an enthusiasm that was contagious.
In 2015, Jean received the Eugene Policelli Service Award in recognition of her years of volunteering, and was honored in 2016 at her retirement by the Friends with the creation of The Jean Klein Scholastic Award named for her. The award offers financial assistance for schools outside of South Windsor to experience the Native American field trips now offered in Nowashe Village.
Calling hours will be at Samsel and Carmon Funeral Home, in South Windsor on
Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 2:00 to 4:00 with a service at 3:00 pm.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to: Friends of Wood Memorial Library in support of The Jean Klein Scholastic Award named in her honor to enable schools outside of South Windsor to come and experience the field trips, the exhibits, and attend educational lecture series in her memory.
Friends of Wood Memorial Library, Jean Klein Scholastic Award, P.O. Box 131, South Windsor, CT 06074. To leave an online condolence please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com
