William Allan Klein spent over fifty years living in central Florida but steadfastly called Pittsburgh home. He was born in Turtle Creek, PA on August 25, 1938, and died peacefully in Sanford, Florida on March 14, 2023.
It feels like no coincidence that the long-time math teacher left us on Pi Day. After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in education, Bill taught briefly in Everett, PA then moved to Florida to teach and coach football at the Sanford Naval Academy, an experience that was formative in his career and his life, and in the lives of so many of his students and players. He next taught at Oviedo High School and then at Crooms Ninth Grade
Center before joining the faculty at Seminole High School where he taught and coached football, basketball, and golf for two decades. He often said there wasn’t a single day where he didn’t love his job.
Coach Klein loved his job because he loved his students and his teams. He instilled discipline, order, and more than a touch of humor in his teaching and coaching. He gave up lunch hours, free time, taught math in summer school for many years, and even taught in the fourth grade Math Superstars program after he retired. An inspiring coach and teacher, he helped struggling
students and encouraged many to push themselves to find success.
Family was most important to Bill, and he leaves behind the love of his life, Bonnie Klein. Their love spanned more than three decades, and they were married for 23 years. They were inseparable and considered one another soul mates.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Annarose Klein, and is survived by his sisters, Kandy Miller and Jill (Rick) Fulton. Uncle Bill had five nieces and nephews, and four great nieces and nephews who adored him. He loved them all as if they were children of his own.
Whether it was spending summer vacations with them in his pool or buying the most coveted Christmas presents, offering words of encouragement or putting a few dollars in their pockets, he made each of them feel important and loved.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Coleman Church in Turtle Creek, PA on April 5, 2023 at 10 am, with burial at St. Joseph’s cemetery, North Versailles, PA. A Memorial Mass will be held at All Souls Catholic Church in Sanford, FL in April with a celebration of life to follow.
Bill would be just as happy if you’d crack open maintenance beer, sing along to Jimmy Buffet, run into the ocean, root on your favorite team, hit the links, or just enjoy the breeze out on the porch and embrace the day with the ones you love. RTJR.