Eric Kline
Eric Stephen “The Geeper” Kline, a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, confidant, adviser and friend, passed away Friday, July 31, 2015, with his family by his side.
He was born November 17, 1943, in Belton, Texas, a son of Dr. Bernard E. and Bertha McGraw Kline. Mr. Kline was a graduate of Milton Hershey School in Hershey. He attended Ursinus College in Collegeville, where he met his future bride and earned his bachelor of science in chemistry. He also earned his master’s of business administration from University of Pittsburgh. On June 18, 1966, he married the love of his life, Suzie O’Keefe, in Pottstown.
He spent the majority of his career with Fort Pitt Bridge Works in Canonsburg and KTA-Tator in Pittsburgh. He recently retired from KTA as an executive vice president, after 30 years, but continued to serve as a technical adviser and goodwill ambassador.
An advocate for youth throughout his life, he coached Best Oil in Canonsburg Little League Baseball, served multiple terms on Canon-McMillan School Board, served on the Try Again Homes advisory board and supported candidate identification for attendance at Milton Hershey School. A community advocate, he was a longtime chairman of Canonsburg-Houston Joint Sewer Authority, which he affectionately called the “poop group,” member of Canonsburg Redevelopment Authority, past member of Canonsburg Hospital Board and, at the time of his death, member of Board of Review.
While at KTA, he became a prolific lecturer and author, seeking solutions to corrosion issues plaguing the coatings industry. His natural manner and a bit of showmanship made him a popular instructor for KTA’s training programs as well as a favorite presenter at technical conferences. Spawned by his early exposure to the bridge industry, he focused much of his attention on the protection and preservation of steel bridges. His work with KTA and involvement in industry organizations gave him a platform to innovate and share ideas that have become industry standards. He received numerous awards from the industry that he dedicated his life and passion to, including SSPC Honorary Life Member Award (2008), SSPC John D. Keane Award of Merit (2003) and Lifetime Achievement Award from the AISC (2014). He was named an industry Top Thinker in 2009 by JPCL magazine.
Mr. Kline will be remembered for his unique personality and the impact he had on the people around him. He loved playing Scrabble and was a champion creator of nonexistent words. One of his great joys was riding his bike along the Youghiogheny trail to Confluence. He relished his role as adviser and mentor, whether to a colleague, sibling, child or grandchild. A man who knew something about everything, he would always be your greatest champion and applaud your accomplishments (while observing he would have done things “just slightly differently”). When his children were young, he would take them to “sneak to the Queen,” leading to his later conviction that “someone” in the family should buy and reopen the Canonsburg Dairy Queen. A garrulous and mischievous guest, he would introduce himself as “Dr. Kline, world famous proctologist” or introduce himself as the host of your party, telling your guests that if they saw anything they liked they should go ahead and take it. Anyone who met him knows that they are “lucky he didn’t kick their ass.” Despite all of the accolades over his lifetime, he was always humble about his accomplishments, saying it was just something he did or he was in the right place at the right time. He preferred to let the light of success shine on his colleagues, saying he was just part of the team. Even later in life, he often said he wasn’t sure what he wanted to be when he grew up, because there were so many things he wanted to do. He was endlessly proud of his children and grandchildren and provided constant encouragement to them regarding their hopes and dreams. He was always thankful for the love, companionship and friendship that his wife provided for him over their 49 years of marriage and often expressed how much she and their life together meant to him.
Surviving are his wife, Suzanne; daughters Mary Beth Kline and Deborah Schwab of Canonsburg; sons Michael Kline (Lori) of North Huntingdon, Jonathan Kline (Maryhelen) of Virginia Beach, Va., and David Kline (Amy) of Tampa, Fla.; grandchildren Mason, Evan and Isaiah Kline, Abigail and Eric Schwab, Brandon Aguiniga and Stephen and Elizabeth Kline; brothers Fred Kline (Nancy) of North Hills, Joel Kline (Marjorie) of Houston, Texas, Matthew Kline (Sandy) of Alexandria, Va., and Dr. Ernest Kline (Eileen) of Upper St. Clair; sisters Eleanor Kulikowski (Jerry) of Knoxville, Tenn., and Gretchen Cooley (Jackson) of Houston; and 18 beloved nieces and nephews. Deceased, in addition to his parents, are brother David and sister Suzanne Varley.
Friends welcome from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Beinhauer-Bogan Funeral Home, 164 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, PA 15317, 724-745-5810. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 5, in St. Patrick Church, Canonsburg. Interment in St. Patrick Cemetery.
The family suggest memorial donations be made to Leukemia And Lymphoma Society (), 333 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or American Diabetes Association , 100 West Station Square Drive, #1900, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, . Please view or add tributes at .