Kleiner, Dr. Harold A. 92 10/12/1917 03/10/2010 Harold Alfred Kleiner peacefully passed away at Willamette View Health Center March 10, 2010. He was 92. Born in Portland Oct. 12, 1917, he was the eldest of three children of Alfred Kleiner of Germany and Alma Varn of Finland. He spent his elementary years in Portland and graduated with highest honors from Klamath Union High School in Klamath Falls in 1935. His teen years found him fishing and hunting with his best friends, Ben and Ed Goddard, on Upper Klamath Lake. Over the years he delighted in recalling and sharing those adventures. The family returned to Portland in 1937 and lived on Willamette Boulevard near the University of Portland, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1943. Majoring in philosophy, psychology, economics and business, he graduated first in his class with the maxima cum laude designation. Working the graveyard shift at the local sawmill on the green chain allowed him to pay for college. Harold received his master's degree from the University of Oregon in 1955, and in 1965 was awarded a doctorate in education from the University of Portland. On Dec. 11, 1943, Harold married Althee Renwick, the love of his life. They had three children, Beverly, Darlene and Brian. Harold was a devoted father and thoroughly enjoyed raising his children with Althee. Education, of course, was a priority, and the whole family worked hard to pay college tuitions for three children and Althee, who all chose to enter the education field as well. Harold cherished his family vacation time every summer when they spent time camping and fishing on the lakes of Central Oregon. Those trips always included his sister and brother-in-law, Clara and Harvey Pullin, and their children, Christine and Diane. Harold spent his 34-year career working as a school and district administrator for the Portland Public School District. He was a gifted school leader. He became vice principal at Ulysses S. Grant High School in 1952, and he was promoted to principal in 1957. Grant was the largest school in the state with an enrollment of over 3,000 students. The high school was in its "heyday" while Harold was principal, and the students excelled in academics, athletics and activities. He was known for indoctrinating each new freshman class in his three ships: scholarship, citizenship and sportsmanship. Graduates of that era remember those qualities. In 1958, Grant High School was recognized by Pageant magazine as one of the top 10 best high schools in the United States. It was truly a unique school. Harold relished his time there and continued to follow the staff and students. In 1965 Harold Kleiner became an assistant superintendent. He was in charge of the model school program, the first program by Portland Public Schools aimed at desegregation. In 1969, he was asked by the Board of Education to apply for the superintendent's job. Although honored, Harold declined, but he agreed to serve as interim superintendent for the 1969-70 school year. In 1970, when Robert Blanchard became the new superintendent, Harold was appointed deputy superintendent. He oversaw the day-to-day operations of the school district. In addition, during this time he acted as Portland Public School's lobbyist to the Oregon State legislature. He served on numerous committees and task forces. Harold was president of the Oregon Schools Activity Association Board of Control and was appointed by Governors Mark O. Hatfield and Tom McCall to several statewide and national commissions. He retired from public service in 1982. It seemed everyone in the school district knew Dr. Kleiner. The Oregonian's John Guernsey referred him to as "Mr. Public Schools." He was always accessible, honest, straightforward, diplomatic, a problem-solver and a person of high standards. His colleagues called him "Mr. Integrity" and "Mr. Cool," as he was also unflappable. At his retirement, Don McElroy, the superintendent's executive assistant, said, "He has touched the lives of thousands with his honesty, sincerity, and class. He is a gentle man and a gentleman. He has earned the respect, friendship and love of those of us who worked with him. He is unique." Harold and Althee moved to West Linn when he retired, and he approached retirement just as he did his career. He became an avid gardener and involved himself in the Master Gardeners Association. He volunteered numerous hours and was president of the Portland Garden Club and the Men's Garden Club of America. In his garden, Harold specialized in dahlias, tomatoes, and eradicating moles. He thoroughly enjoyed spending five to six hours each day working out in the garden on his half-acre in West Linn. During the winter months, Harold could be seen in his shop enjoying woodworking and crafting fine furniture pieces. Harold enjoyed fishing for steelhead and salmon on the rivers of the Oregon coast with his longtime friends and colleagues, Carl Piacentini, Jack Peterson and Cy Butterfield. Additionally, he loved to spend time with his wife and six grandchildren. A longtime member of the United Methodist Church, he was involved in many church committees and events. Harold and Althee moved to Willamette View Retirement Center in 2000. She preceded him in death. Harold is survived by his sister, Clara Pullin of Beaverton; and brother, Bert Kleiner of Silverton; as well as his children, Beverly Maass of Portland, and Darlene Beck and Brian Kleiner of West Linn; and six grandchildren, Erin Maass, Gary Maass, Andrew Beck, Brian Beck, Alison Kleiner and Dan Kleiner. A private family memorial service will be held at River View Cemetery. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers remembrances be sent to the Willamette View Foundation in his name. Harold Kleiner lived a long and fulfilling life, and he shaped and influenced the lives of many people. He will be greatly missed