Robert P. Klova

Robert P. Klova, 77, of Allentown died Tuesday, April 14, 2009, in Whitehall Manor Senior Home in Allentown, and has passed on into the gentle hands of Our Lord after a long bout with Parkinson's. He was the loving husband of Louise Pointkowski Klova for 51 years. Born in Easton, he was the son of the late Paul and Patrenella Remainete Klova. He attended Easton High School. He served his country honorably as a sailor achieving rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer, Radarman, aboard the USS Warrington destroyer during the Korean War. Upon his discharge he earned a bachelor's degree from Kutztown College in 1958 with a major in Geography and Social Studies. In 1960 he earned a master's degree in Education/Social Studies from Pennsylvania State University. In 1970 he acquired a secondary principal's Certification at Lehigh University. During his career with the Allentown school district as a teacher, principal and administrator, he was involved in special programs at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., Lehigh University, and Agnes Scott College, Atlanta, Georgia. A much respected educator, his tenure with the school district started in 1958 as social studies teacher in South Mountain J.H.S., continuing as Assistant Principal 1969-1971 in William Allen H.S., and as Principal of South Mountain J.H.S., 1971-1974. As Director of Secondary Education, Allentown School District, 1974-1991, Robert supervised budgets for six secondary schools. Responsibilities included hiring and allocation of teaching staff, evaluation of principals and assistant principals, coordination of In-Service programs; development of teacher and student schedules. He developed Alternative Education programs; discipline codes; and wrote numerous State and Federal Grants. He was also an adjunct Professor at Cedar Crest College. His interest in sports led him to serve as basketball and football coach while at South Mountain. As a lifelong fisherman, Robert and his friends and family enjoyed the challenges of the Jersey Shore, Great Lakes, Canada and his camp on the Delaware River. He enjoyed gardening and cultivating flowers and vegetables starting with seedlings from his greenhouse and, he also developed a potato patch in the countryside. He was affiliated with PHI DELTA KAPPA, Kutztown University Chapter and was a board member of the Booster Club. He served as chairperson-Minsi Trails Boy Scouts of America, In-school Exploration Program. He was president of Knights of Lithuania-Lehigh Valley Council #63.

Survivors: Wife, Louise; daughter Jill and husband Tom Bartek; granddaughter Malia Rose Bartek of Lower Saucon Township; brother Adolf and wife Heidi Klova of Allentown; nephew, Robert J. and wife Michele, their daughters Elyse and Amy of Bethlehem; nephew Jeffery and wife Teryl, their son Stephen of Sicklerville, NJ; nephew Michael predeceased.

Services: Friends may call on Friday, April 17, 2009 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Connell Funeral Home, 245 East Broad Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 followed by a funeral service at 10:00 AM at the Connell Funeral Home.

Burial following service at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem, PA

Contributions: May be made to The Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032