Bert Jack “BJ” Klein, Jr. died peacefully at Elizabeth House at Four Seasons Hospice on December 25, 2022 at the age of 81 after a long journey with Alzheimer’s.
He was born in Los Angeles, CA on October of 1941 to parents Bert J. Klein, Sr. and Lois M. Noble Klein. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marlene K. West.
BJ leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Linda Morrow Klein; daughter, April K. Sipprell; son, Bert J. Klein, III; daughter-in-law, Jennifer C. Klein; and grandchildren, Summer and Sophie Sipprell, and Mary and Tim Klein.
BJ was a research physicist with degrees from Lynchburg College (Virginia), Wake Forest University (NC), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After finishing his PhD in physics from UNC-CH, he spent two years in a post-doctoral position in Paris, France, with the National Center for Scientific Research. While living in France, BJ and his wife and two young children were able to tour around Europe.
BJ began his career with DuPont in Wilmington, DE, in 1973 then moved to Hendersonville, NC in 1976 to work at the Brevard DuPont Research and Development Station. He retired in 1998 and enjoyed many years of retirement at his home on Glassy Mountain in Flat Rock.
BJ had numerous interests and abilities. He had a private pilot’s license as a young man and was a self-taught computer user who hard-wired his own computer at home in the 1980s. He had a fascination with space and science fiction. He trained for many years in Okinawan karate in Sensei Doug Perry’s dojo and earned his 7thdegree black belt. He loved music, especially barbershop, and sang with the Asheville Land of the Sky Barbershop Chorus and sang bass in a quartet. He built a wood-working shop at home where he did many projects, including building toys for the Asheville Wood Crafters annual toy project. He enjoyed many years of pleasure visiting Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, SC, with family and friends, especially John and Ann Overton. He volunteered with the Friends of the Library, Blue Ridge Literacy Council, Bounty of Bethlehem, and helped maintain the Glassy Mountain community well. He will be remembered for his can-do-anything determination, strong moral compass, sense of humor, and his love of physical fitness, nature, cats, and his family.
No services are planned at this time. Memorials may be made to Elizabeth House at Four Seasons Compassion for Life or to a charity of the donor’s choice.