Albert H. Kleister, 83, of Shrewsbury MA, died on June 23, 2009, after a long battle with prostate cancer. His last days were spent at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home.
Al was raised in Terryville, Connecticut. After his graduation from Terryville High School, he was inducted into the United States Navy on July 21, 1944, served in the Pacific Theater during WWII as an Electrician Technical Mate, second class, and was honorably discharged on June 15, 1946. He attended the University of Connecticut and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. He and his wife, Cecely (Moller) Kleister, were married on May 30, 1952, in Manchester, Connecticut. He worked for IBM, Inc. for 35 years and retired in 1987. The majority of his career was spent at the company’s facilities located in Poughkeepsie, New York developing training programs for new managers. He lived in Poughkeepsie from 1959 to 2002. In 2002, he and Cece moved to Shrewsbury MA to be near their children living locally in MA. . He was an avid amateur tennis player and competed in many tournaments and was a ranked senior’s player in the New England area. Al was also certified by the United States Tennis Association as a tennis instructor. He continued to play both singles and doubles tennis until late last year and was a member of Holden Towers Tennis Club, Holden MA. He and Cece recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. He had a lifelong love of music and was an accomplished amateur cellist.
Along with his wife, Cece, he is survived by his 5 children; Rebecca Kleister of Takoma Park MD, and her daughter, Dulce Ricciardelli; Kevin Kleister and his wife, Denise Plante Kleister, of Shrewsbury MA, and their children, Kelly and Brian; Jack Moss and his wife, Lilly, of Binghamton NY, and their children, Sophie, Ben and Vivian Strosberg; David Kleister and his wife, Rachel, of Carnegie PA, and their daughters, Alison and Laurel; and, Amy Kelly and her husband, Jay, of Lyme NH, and their daughter, Juliet.
There will be no calling hours or funeral service. A private burial ceremony will be at Hillside Cemetery, 75 N. Main Street, Terryville CT.
The family would ask that in lieu of other remembrances, a memorial donation in Al’s name be made to the Rose Monahan Hospice Home located at 10 Judith Road, Worcester MA 01602 in thanks for their loving devotion, respect and care that the Hospice workers and volunteers showed Al in his last days.
Alfred Roy & Sons Funeral Home 12 Hammond St. Worcester is directing arrangements. To send a message of condolence to the family please visit www.Royfuneral.com