Marc Lee Klein

August 12, 2020

Marc Lee Klein, a man who deeply loved his wife, the countryside, music and flowers, took a piece of our hearts with him when he died August 12. The lifelong resident of Westchester County was 71. Son of Irving and Irene Klein, Marc was born in New York City on August 28, 1948, and was raised in Yonkers, graduating Roosevelt High School. At the age of 5, he was hospitalized with polio; he survived with little physical injury but with painful memories of the pediatric polio ward. He grew up playing games with his little sisters, Lynn and Karin Klein, sharing his erector sets and toy soldiers with remarkable generosity. One of the stories about Marc as a preschooler was how much he loved flowers which he called “finny faddas” for “pretty flowers.” As a teenager, he learned guitar and played in a basement band together with his friend Steve Tallarico, who would later become Steve Tyler of Aerosmith. Marc got his early start after school working in the New York garment district like his dad, but found his real place among plants and flowers when he went to work at a White Plains nursery. He developed great expertise and became an avid gardener as well. When the nursery closed, Marc took charge of the flower and plant department at an upscale supermarket chain, where he was known for his artistic eye with the “finny faddas.” The greatest event in Marc’s life was his 1985 wedding to Judith Moccia. He was drawn to her humor and sweet nature as well as her beauty, and that love stayed with him through the years, only deepening with time. They lived most of their years together in Dobbs Ferry, and in later years, the two of them took tremendous care of Judy’s mother Peggy, who lived in the same building. They enjoyed gatherings with friends and frequent trips to their country place in Copake Lake, N.Y., as well as sharing a love of their shih tzu dogs. Marc also was devoted to his parents and would call his widowed father every evening. Marc is survived by his wife Judy and his sisters Lynn and Karin. He was a playful and affectionate uncle to his nieces and nephew who survive him: Talya Klein Meyers, Samuel Klein Meyers, Liliana Riotto and Aviva Klein Meyers, and a grandniece, Jordan Hiltner.