Felix S. Klock I, obituary

KLOCK, Felix S. Felix Stanley Klock, 95, died Thursday morning, (November 2, 2006) at the Hospice unit of Manchester Memorial Hospital. He was born on May 11, 1911 in Dilworth, MN. He lived in Manchester and Glastonbury. Klock was a graduate of MIT, as was his first wife, Nancy, son Peter and grandsons Felix and Andrew. He also spent a year studying at Stanford University. After graduation, he was hired by Hamilton Standard Division of UTC as its first metallurgical engineer, specializing in quality control. Later appointed Chief Materials Engineer, he established and ran the company’s highly respected metallurgical engineering department. After retiring from Hamilton Standard, Klock started his own heat treating business, the Klock Company, in Manchester with a branch in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The company’s slogan was “metallurgical specialists to industry.” The firm was subsequently sold to Gulf & Western Industries, but retained the Klock name with Klock remaining as President. The company is still in existence as Sematech Klock. He was an avid traveler and toured throughout Asia, Europe, Australia, and Africa. In the 1950’s, Klock, his first wife Nancy and sons Peter, Stanley, and Steven, went on two African safaris. They recorded pictures and sound, producing a film which included rare footage of pygmy and Watuzi tribal dances. They showed this film to many civic groups and schools. All members of the family were big game hunters, although Klock later became a passionate conservationist and lover of animals. He continued to travel throughout the world for many years. He married Jeanne Mintun Lister in 1962. She worked as a substitute teacher at Glastonbury High School for 33 years. An ardent naturalist and outdoorsman, Klock was a familiar sight in his later years at Williams Park where he walked every day with his beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. He was predeceased by his son Stephen. He leaves behind his wife Jeanne; son Peter and his wife Sue Klock of Glastonbury; son Stanley Klock of Arizona; daughter Renee and her husband Jay Severin of Sag Harbor, NY; and step children Franklin Lister and wife Gina of Muskegon, MI; Deborah Lister and husband John Ofsonka of Abingdon, MD; Laurie Lister and husband Judd Burstein of Westport; and Julie Lipton of Austin, TX; his sister Rose Wheeler of Michigan; fourteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. The family will receive callers beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6 at Watkins Funeral Home, 142 East Center St., Manchester. A memorial service will follow at 4 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his honor to Visiting Nurse & Health Services Inc. (North Central Hospice) 8 Keynote Drive, Vernon, CT 06066.

Published in the Hartford Courant on 11/3/2006.