Irene S. Kline

Irene S. Kline, formerly of Kingston died Sunday, October 12, 2008 in Silver Spring, MD. She was 88. She was born in Brooklyn on July 2, 1920 a daughter of the late Benjamin and Stella Dubin Suskind. Mrs. Kline was a Kingston City School Librarian for over 20 years and at times for 3 different public grade schools. Having graduated as valedictorian from the State University at New Paltz, she also earned a Masters Degree in Library Science from Albany. As a librarian, she expanded the school Libraries to Audio/Visual Centers that included educational moves and audio tapes. Six grader projects included students writing their own books, and presenting them to younger students. Near the end of her educational career, she started the Gifted and Talented Program so that young talented students would stay interested in education. After retiring from the City Schools she became a Librarian at a county Library, where she developed programs to introduce preschoolers and their parents to the Library, often attracting large crowds to listen to her read selections from the library. During the past 10 years, she was a resident of Leisure World in Silver Springs, where she continued her interests as the chairperson of the Leisure World Library. She always had new books in her apartment, busily preparing them for circulation to the senior citizens. She gave thousands of students the life changing experience of reading, and took pride in selecting the books that would capture their interest and imagination. She was a member of the Agudas Achim in Kingston, NY and Tikvat Israel Congregation in Rockville, Maryland. Mrs. Kline was a longtime Member of DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL for women educators. She was an avid supporter of Israel through Israel bond drives and United Jewish Appeal, as well as numerous other charities such as the American Heart Association and Cancer Society. She was frequently honored for her lifelong charitable activities. Her husband David "Bud" Kline died November 14, 1986. One daughter Lenore Bain died in 2000; one brother Leonard Suskind died in 1949 and one brother Walter Suskind died in 1975. Surviving are two sons Richard Kline and his wife Robin of Riverdale, New York; Robert Kline and his wife Fran of Rockville, MD; her son in law Ridley Bain, Lawrenceville, VA; one sister Shirley Suskind of Georgetown, DC; seven grandchildren Alliison Kline, Dana Kline, Lauren Bain, Bennett Bain, David Bain, Elle Kline and Dale Kline; nieces and nephews Len and Ron Suskind; Shari Book, Evelyn Kalish-Heller , and Lesile Kalish; Susan Lehman, David Goldman; Irene Weiss, Lois Arnold, and Amy Schecter. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday at 12:00 at Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY. Rabbi Yitzock Hecht will officiate. Interment will be in Montrepose Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Jewish Appeal.