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Paul

(Gustav)

Klemens

Obituary

Paul Gustav Klemens, an emeritus professor and former chairman of the University of Connecticut Department of Physics, passed away on July 26 at the age of 87. He had been a resident of Connecticut since 1967, living first in Manchester, then in Storrs until moving to West Hartford in 2011. He was born in 1925 in Vienna, Austria, the son of Jewish parents who owned a textile business supplying yarn to petit point workshops. At age 12, shortly after the Nazi-orchestrated Kristallnacht, his father was arrested and held in a concentration camp. When his father was released, the family fled to Australia in June 1939. As German-speaking immigrants, he and his parents were initially mistrusted by the Australians, but nonetheless operated a successful tomato farm and handbag factory in Mona Vale, a then-rural area near Sydney. He learned to speak English, and, demonstrating an aptitude for mathematics, won a scholarship to the University of Sydney, where he earned B.S. and M.S degrees in physics. In 1948, he was awarded a scholarship to Oxford University in England. Arriving in London following a long and exhausting ocean journey, he was invited to attend a Jewish holiday dinner at the home of a local family. There, he met Ruth Wiener and her family, who were also Holocaust survivors. The couple married in 1950, and after Paul completed his Ph.D., the couple returned to his adopted country of Australia, where he became principal research officer at the National Standards Laboratory. In 1959, they emigrated to the United States, where he joined the Westinghouse Research Laboratories in Pittsburgh, PA, heading a group that worked on an early version of what was later known as “Star Wars” missile defense technology. In 1967, he was appointed chairman of the University of Connecticut physics department, and the family moved to Manchester. During his tenure, he supervised 13 Ph.D. and many other graduate students and worked as a consultant for both private industry (United Technologies) as well as the federal government, including the U.S. Naval Research Lab and the Los Alamos and Oak Ridge National Laboratories. He was the author of several books and numerous scientific papers, as well as the recipient of numerous professional awards. He was an elected member of the Washington, DC-based Cosmos Club, whose members are recognized leaders in the fields of science, literature, arts and politics. Also, he was a fellow with the American Physical Society and the Institute of Physics (U.K.) Along with his late wife Ruth, he was an active member of Temple Beth Shalom B’nai Israel in Manchester. When the couple moved to Mansfield in the 1980s, they were engaged in social and philanthropic events within the university community. He is predeceased by his wife Ruth Hannah Wiener Klemens, who died of cancer in 2011, and is survived by his son Michael W. Klemens of Salisbury and daughter-in-law Nicole Klemens of Rye, NY and their sons Daniel and Robert Klemens; his daughter Susan M. Klemens and son-in-law Daniel Root and their daughter Melinda Root of Alexandria, VA; a a sister-in-law Mirjam Finkelstein of London and his brother-in-law Ted Plaut of Madison. He is also survived by three nieces and two nephews: Anthony and Daniel Finkelstein and Tamara Finkelstein Isaacs of London, Julie Plaut Furey and Karen Plaut of West Lafayette, IN. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 27 at 1 p.m. at Temple Beth Shalom B’nai Israel, 400 E. Middle Tpke, Manchester, with interment in Temple Beth Shalom Memorial Park, Manchester. Arrangements entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. Shiva will be held at his home: Summerwood, 160 Simsbury Rd, West Hartford, 06117. Friends may extend condolences on Friday following the burial until Shabbat and on Sunday, 12-8:30 p.m. On Sunday, the family will attend the Tisha B’Av afternoon service at Summerwood at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Ruth and Paul Klemens Endowment Fund (#30951). Please make checks payable to: The UConn Foundation, Inc., 2390 Alumni Drive Unit 3206, Storrs, Conn. 06269. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Paul, visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com

Guest Book For

Paul Klemens

(Gustav)

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From: John Wolch

From Versailles, CT

Posted On: September 26, 2012

As a graduate student in the 1980s, Prof. Klemens was my absolute favorite teacher in the UCONN Physics Department because of his clarity and humor (still remember some of the jokes). I took as many of his courses as possible in Classical Mechanics, Continuum Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics. The respect, courtesy and friendship he shared with his students was remarkable. Near the end of the term, he would invite the entire class to the Alumni club for a social time. I didn't realize we shared an Austrian Jewish heritage until reading his obituary. My condolences to the family.

From: Winthrop Smith

From Storrs, CT

Posted On: July 31, 2012

I first met Paul in 1969, when I left Columbia University for a position in UConn's
Physics Department. I was greateful to be hired and given a nice lab. Anne and I gained great respect for Paul and Ruth after we came to Storrs. Paul was a thoughtful and compassionate department head, always ready with sage advice when needed, but not overbearing. We appreciated Paul and Ruth's warm hospitality and friendship. We are missing them both very much. Condolences to Susan and Michael.

From: Karin Speier

From ,

Posted On: July 31, 2012

My deepest condolences to Paul's family. Both he & Ruth were great friends of my late parents for many years & both will be much missed. Ruth & Paul were always very kind to me & treated me like a 'daughter', I like to think that, somewhere, my late parents (Heinz & Sue) are together again with Paul & Ruth.

From: Dr. Michael W. Klemens

From Salisbury, CT

Posted On: August 5, 2012

I know it's a bit unconventional to have a child sign the guest book--but Professor Best's commentary is also a vivid memory of mine--but I would like to put it into context. After suffering the horrors of Kristallnacht my father had an antipathy to mob violence..so whether the cause was fascisim, anti-Semitism, or anti-war protests, the occupation/violation of public and private spaces by mobs was completely unacceptable to him. That is why he stood on the steps with a baseball bat.. quite in itself remarkable because it would have been the only time in his life he held a baseball bat..though he was an avid tennis player in his younger years along with my mother--he had no interest baseball--though Mom loved the Pittsburgh Pirates. I miss him so much--it's only been a week..and nine months since Mom died.

From: Judith Backover

From Carmichael, CA

Posted On: August 7, 2012

Dr. Klemens and I knew each other through his daughter, Susan, who was a college friend and colleague of mine.

Dr. Klemens was an erudite mathematician and scientist with many other interests.

The world has been diminished by his death.

From: Frank (Butch) Madarasz

From Madison, AL

Posted On: July 27, 2012

RIP to good friend and mentor.

From: Pam Huling

From Brooklyn, NY

Posted On: July 28, 2012

Dear Mr. Klemens,
I did not know you but I know your daughter. It was clear that any man who could raise such a wonderful person as Sue must have done something right. Sure enough, in reading the obituary, you did a LOT right in your life. May you get all the peace that you deserve now for a life well-lived. You will surely be missed on this earth.
With respect,
Pam Huling

From: Catharina & Mahmoud Melehy

From Storrs, CT

Posted On: July 28, 2012

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of the late, highly esteemed, Dr. Professor Paul G. Klemens.
Catharina and Mahmoud Melehy

From: Phil Best

From Mansfield Center, CT

Posted On: July 28, 2012

Paul Klemens will always be held in my high regard, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he hired me. I recall in the days of Vietnam war protest, that Paul made news when he stood atop the stairs leading to the Physics Department, and he held off a mob, while wielding a baseball bat (which he didn't use); a really tough guy, great to have on your side!
Paul was a good and a highly respected Department Head.

From: Pilar Miranzo

From Madrid,

Posted On: July 29, 2012

My sincere condolences to the family

From: Isabel Osendi

From Madrid, Spain

Posted On: July 29, 2012

We met for a very short time at the University of Connecticut and I always remember the conversation about thermal conductivity issues that he knew so well. It was very enlightening.

From: Alexis Rosenoer Nusbaum

From Ellicott City, MD

Posted On: July 30, 2012

Paul was a wonderful gentleman. Most of my memories of him are from my childhood. But I recall my last visit with both Ruth and Paul the evening my daughter, Olivia, and I met them at the Cosmos Club. Aunt Mirjam and Uncle Ludwig were in town. Paul and Ruth invited my family to dine with them. Olivia and I were so pleased to see them. Both Ruth and Paul were so sweet and kind. We all laughed a lot that evening. It is a golden memory that I and Olivia will always hold close to our hearts.
I send my deepest condolences and lots of love to all family members.
Alexis (Alix) Nusbaum

From: Maurice

From Somerset, NJ

Posted On: July 30, 2012

It was my pleasure to know and work with Paul Klemens over the last ten years at UConn. We published a number of papers together. Paul was retired, but was eager to continue to be involved in research. He loved technical discussions in his area of expertise and his enthusiasm was infectious.

Perhaps, my most vivid memory was being at conferences with Paul where he was presenting papers. He was a natural comic, which is rare in most scientists and engineers. Paul with his dry humor and timing had the audiences roaring. Paul will be missed.

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