Ron Klein

Arrived into this world at Devil's Lake, ND, the son of Roy, a farmer and former tank driver in Patton's army, and Maria, a seamstress ad World War II bride. A devastating rainstorm at harvest time caused the family to sell the farm and pack it in.

In 1955 they took all their possessions, including Ron and sister Marcella, bundled them into a 1950 Chevy and headed off to Southington with the lure of a job at Pratt & Whitney. Farmer/machinist....a perfect fit for Dad.

Ron attended Holcomb, Hatton, Thalberg, JFK and Southington High School, graduating in 1970. Having been the mail boy at the old Southington Bank & Trust asfter school, the logical thing to do was to continue to work for SB&T full-time unil he decided what to do with his life. Thirty-five years later, he's still mulling it over.

A most fond memory is that of September 1, 1970. While working as a teller in the Queen Street office of SB&T, a masked gunman entered the bank, started yelling and fired two shots, one of which glanced off the floor and hit Ron in the foot. Hey, he was in a hurry.

In 1976, Ron met the lovely Lisa Dinello. An infamous 1977 ride on his '74 Harley Davidson out to Kent Falls led to marital bliss (depending on what your definition of 'bliss' is). She could not resist the black flies and other assorted bugs stuck to his face and body after this spring ride.

They reside in Southington with their three sons - Jonathan, Jeremy and Nathan, all avid golfers. Ron at one time was also an avid golfer but, with the advent of kids' golf, UConn and CCSU, he now suffers 'starving wallet syndrome' which, sadly, reduces playing time.

In the early 80's he began taking night classes at CCSU. With a kid in one arm, a book in the other and working the TV remote with his toes, he completed a Bachelor's Degree in Finance. He also is a graduate of Williams College's School of Banking.

Ron joined the Rotary Club of Southington in 1979, sponsored by Joe Grecki. His arrival brought the average age down to around 68. A career move with the old CBT brought him to the Torrington Rotary Club from 1982-1987 and thenback to Southington, then to Hartford, finally again settling in Southington in the early 1990's. He was president of the club in the 1994-95 year, sneaking in when the then president-to-be fell ill and headed for sunny Florida.

Ron enjoys a round of golf here and there, riding his bike (no peddles please), an occasional card game "with the boys" and is an avid NASCAR fan.