By Catholic Review Staff
Father Charles R. Klein, who served for 25 years as chaplain of what is now MedStar Harbor Hospital in Baltimore, died Aug. 14. According to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the 80-year-old priest had suffered a severe stoke Aug. 4.
A viewing will be held Aug. 17, from 3 to 6 p.m., at St. Rose of Lima in Brooklyn, where Father Klein had been associate pastor from 1973 to 1978, pastor from 1979 to 1981, and temporary administrator in 1992.Archbishop William E. Lori will preside at a funeral Mass there, 11 a.m. Aug. 18. Burial will follow at Holy Rosary Cemetery in Brooklyn Park.
Father Charles R. Klein
“He was holy priest, a pious priest,” said Dr. Carlos Patalinghug, a longtime parishioner of St. Rose of Lima and Father Klein’s personal physician. “He was very approachable, and very nice to people.”
Born in Baltimore Oct. 4, 1933, Father Klein attended St. Charles College in Baltimore, and then St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park. He was ordained to the priesthood in May 1959.
He served as an associate pastor of St. Mary, Hagerstown, 1959-64; Our Lady of Hope, Dundalk, 1964-71; and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Highlandtown, 1971-73. While in Hagerstown, he was chaplain of the Boy Scouts of America in Washington County, 1962-64.
In 1977, and again from 1981 to 2005, he was a chaplain at what was known as South Baltimore General Hospital when he began service there. In the early 1980s, he was chaplain of the Our Lady of Fatima Court of the Catholic Daughters.
In 1982, he entered special ministry at Sacred Heart of Mary in Graceland Park, and became associate pastor there in 1994. Father Klein retired from priestly ministry in April 1995.
He is survived by a sister, Barbara.
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