Written by Karen Lyddane
The word “Family” is known well to Robert “Bob” Klein. It has been his focus throughout life. It started to play a role when, as a boy, he was captain of his High School Baseball Team, a great joy to his family.
When it came time to choose a career, Bob decided that Army life was for him. He learned quickly to make decisions based on how he envisioned his career path to be. Promotions meant considering choices about career and family. Yes, there’s that word again-the life he wanted was what was best for his wife Lucy and three children.
Bob met Lucy on a blind date which was then the norm. He was at school, at West Point, and was asked by a friend to go with him on a date because Lucy had a friend with her and she was tall. So was he! All four met, and soon, Lucy and Bob found they were a match. Their marriage joyously brought two boys and a girl into the world. Bob is pleased to have eight grandchildren. He also has many great grandchildren.
Germany was his first assignment. Bob was 25 years old, a Battery Commander with 100 officers and other personnel under his lead. Eight-inch self-propelled Howitzers and three nuclear weapons were part of his million dollar’s inventory. The scary part was that were no safeties on the nuclear weapons! To this day, he is in disbelief that he got through the Cold War without firing them.
Bob retired not once, but twice. First, at 43 years of age, Bob had already been in the Army for 21 years. This retirement came with the realization that he had to go back to work to afford needs of his family, such as college expenses. His second career as a certified financial planner was a good choice, for he received great satisfaction in serving people. He retired for the second time when he turned 65. Together, he and Lucy moved to Annapolis, where they were closer to their daughter.
“Besides economics, another consideration in retiring is that you have to have something to do” said Bob. “It doesn’t have to be big,” he advised. “If you have grandchildren, they can be a very big part of your life.” He recalled the time that he was alone in the bleachers watching one of his grandchildren play ball. “Go to their games!” Lucy was involved with an organization called “Questers.” It is dedicated to keeping history alive through preservation of meaningful places, and education. Of course, this meant that Bob was also involved…
Bob and Lucy decided to move to The Woodlands in 2023. Moving to a retirement community was a thought frequently on Bob’s mind. Lucy had health issues that made him think, realistically, that he would survive her. The day came, and with it was the same understanding of “Family.” His children were settled into the Fairfax area, they were more important than ever, and so he thought, and thought. “What in the world do you do when your wife dies?” The answer was to move to a retirement community that would give community support, challenge him to leave his apartment every day, and lift his shoulders from responsibility so he could do what he’d not been able to do before.
Enter “The Woodlands Retirement Community.” Bob’s life as a resident allows him to get involved in many ways. The morning coffee group in the Bistro is a time of fellowship, of thinking, opining, and in the end, solving all of the world’s problems. At least, for that day. This seems so simple yet is full of social time often lacking in older living.
Bob joined “Memory Boulevard” right away. Quickly, Bob learned to bring questions with him. This resident-hosted time is regularly scheduled and highly popular. Clever questions are offered, starting as basic as: “What are the last two digits of your phone number?” Given the answer by a resident, Bob will, for example, ask who won the Superbowl in a year that ended with the same two digits. “Down Memory Lane: Trivia of the 20th Century,” written by Bob, has a bit about life at The Woodlands. He has written four books resulting from a pact. A resident and Bob agreed that they would do something they’d always wanted. So, the books came into being, and the other resident learned to play the piano-a far different expenditure of time for the former psychiatrist. They both achieved their goals, inspiring others to do the same.
“My wife died at the end of December 2023. Anyone who has been through this understands the void that follows. This community filled that void for me, really filled that void. My neighbors have permitted me to continue to be an active part of the community and have been a great help in overcoming all that I miss without my wife. In my mind I am constantly thanking them for their support.”
And in our minds, we are always thanking Bob Klein for being an important part of life at The Woodlands Retirement Community. Indeed, the word “Family” has a new meaning, and one that defines his community.
