Howard Klein, a grandson of Klein’s Family Markets founders Maurice and Sara Klein and the youngest son of Ralph and Shirley Klein who helped shape the one-time general store which began in 1925 into a legacy group of supermarkets, has passed away at the age of 63.
For the past two years, he battled glioblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord.
Klein grew up in Forest Hill, MD and began helping his parents in their stores at a very young age. He attended McDonogh School and then enrolled at Brown University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in politics and government in 1980. Upon graduation from Brown, Klein returned to the Baltimore area and attained his law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1983. He graduated cum laude and also served as staff editor of the University of Baltimore’s law review.
Following law school, Klein briefly worked as an associate at Frank, Bernstein, Conaway and Goldman before joining the family business. He was instrumental in transforming the company into a modern and progressive supermarket organization. Howard supervised the legal and administrative functions at Klein’s and was actively involved in the company becoming a ShopRite member when the retailer joined Wakefern Food Corp. in 2008.
Klein was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Shirley (who passed away in 2014 and 2016 respectively), and his brother, Andrew (who tragically lost his life in 2019 when his car was hit by a truck).
He is survived by his wife, Susan; children Stephen (Elizabeth), David (Elizabeth), and Victoria Hoffberger (Trevor); and grandchildren Noah and Emerson. Klein also leaves behind his brother Michael (Clara), sister-in-law Jayne, mother-in-law Anne Mayne, brother-in-law Thomas Kelly (Susie), and many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who became family.
The family will hold a private interment as well as a public memorial at noon on Sunday, September 19, at McDonogh’s Horn Theatre (masks will be required). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Howard Klein Class of 1976 Scholarship Fund, founded by his classmates as a lasting tribute to his service to the school. Donations may also be made to the National Brain Tumor Society or a charity of your choice.