Ronald Kendall Klein passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026 at his Santa Clarita, California home, surrounded by family.

Ron was born on March 23, 1943 in Dayton, Ohio, to John Francis Klein and Mary Irene Baron. The youngest of two boys, Ron grew up in Ohio and California, graduating from St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, CA. After high school at age 19, Ron pursued a Summer job as an assistant cable splicer for the the City of Los Angeles, which would evolve into a successful 33-year career as a dedicated and proud civic leader for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

A few years later, he met and married Mary Jeannine (Jean) St. Amand in July 1967, in Los Angeles, CA. Ron and Jean had three children, Kristin Klein (Glen Profeta), Kevin Klein (Stacey), and Kerrie Klein, and in 1978 moved to Lancaster, CA to raise their family. Ron was active in the community: participating as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart, and Paraclete parishes, and leading weekly Bingo Night fundraisers for St. Mary’s and Paraclete schools. Ron and Jean divorced in 1991, and Ron moved back to Los Angeles, where he met Virginia (Jenny) Mears. They found a strong connection in their love of family and God, and married in 1995 in Simi Valley, CA.

Their marriage joined Ron to Jenny’s family: her eldest daughter Laurie D’Ambrosio (Craig), son Chris Janiak, and youngest son Michael Janiak. Ron loved all of his children, and was a dutiful father and grandfather, and was known as ‘grampa’ and ‘Grandpa Ron’ to twelve grandchildren; three biologically: Trevin Clark, Sara Klein, and Sophia Klein, and nine by fate: Ashley and Lauryn D’Ambrosio, Christopher and Ryan Janiak, Trevor Haugen, Amerette Tithof, and Malikhi, Joliet, and Dominick Janiak.

Ron and Jenny moved to Tehachapi, CA, and built their dream life in the mountains north of Los Angeles. Ron indulged his lifelong love of trains by becoming a docent for the Tehachapi Depot Museum, and relished sharing the majesty and beauty of the Tehachapi mountains and the historic trains that traversed them. Ron and Jenny lived happily in Tehachapi until 2019, when they moved to Santa Clarita, CA to be closer to family.

Ron loved music and big sound. His album collection spanned from Kenny Rogers and Roger Whittaker, to André Rieu and John Williams. From Big Bands and classic country, to Broadway musicals and brassy orchestras, that let him feel the music as he listened to it. He was an early adopter of HiFi stereos, 8-track tapes, big amplifiers and bigger speakers. Ron delighted in being enveloped in music. He was a lifelong fan of pipe organs: the bigger and louder the better, and made pilgrimages to pipe organ meccas like Pipe ‘N Pizza in Reseda to enjoy their massive Wurlitzer organ. Throughout his life he made dozens of trips to the legendary San Sylmar museum in Los Angeles, which housed the largest Wurlitzer pipe organ in the Western United States. There he attended pipe organ concerts, lingered through the extensive collection of mechanical instruments, and enjoyed soaking up the beauty and breadth of the museum, and its treasures and classic cars. Ron was on a first-name basis with all of the tour guides, and often organized groups of friends and neighbors to attend. He loved encouraging others to experience the beauty and majesty of that museum; it was a profound expression of his love to share a place that meant so much to him.

Ron was an accomplished musician, though he wouldn’t admit it, because he wasn’t proficient at reading music. Despite that, he had a near-perfect ear, and could play almost any song on the accordion without sheet music. With short practice, he could commit almost any tune to memory. To the delight of his children, he would frequently take his accordion out on a weekend evening, and play flawlessly consistent renditions of Lady of Spain and Hava Nagila, while they danced through the living room.

Ron loved animals, and had a soft spot for lap dogs who liked to be spoiled. From his first dog Rusty as a child, through some of his favorite pets like the unforgettable “Mitzi and Fitzi”, Ron took delight in doting on the animals around him, and would call and sing their names affectionately whenever they entered the room. If, as Paul McCartney said, “...you can judge a man’s true character by the way he treats his fellow animals”, then Mitzy, Fritz, Stormy, Spark, Nova, and their many lucky predecessors have passed their judgement, and determined Ron’s character to be impeccably tender and loving.

Ron was a man of commitment. To hard work, to family, to the notion of right and wrong. He was a favorite at every job he held, because he arrived early, always made the coffee, and kept the mood jovial, with a big laugh and easy demeanor. He loved the camaraderie of working in a crew, and even came out of retirement to return to a shop floor again. His work ethic stemmed from a deep sense of commitment to doing the job right, to fulfilling his role, and to supporting his crew. He committed to his family: sacrificing to support his children and grandchildren through school and early adulthood. And he committed to his community through service and neighborly support, always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Ron was a man who made commitments, and delivered on them.

Ron lived a rich, full life, and influenced the lives of everyone he met. His electric smile and easy laugh conveyed the sweetness and innocence of his soul, within the stoic exterior of a pragmatic man who expertly worked with his hands all of this life. As a husband, father, grandfather, co-worker, neighbor, friend, and community member, he is remembered as a kind and committed man of action, who sought to improve the world around him, and succeeded. He will be missed desperately by all of the lives he has touched.

In accordance with his faith, Ron is now with his Lord and Savior. He will be lovingly remembered in a private ceremony with his family.

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