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community. We felt that it was very
important to become active!'
Daughter Barbara Zaltz of
Huntington Woods said that although
her parents were busy, they always
made time for her and her brother,
Jeff. "They were always so busy run-
ning from one meeting to another, but
they still were always very much pres-
ent for all our family functions and
school events:' Zaltz said.
Son Jeff Klein, who lives in New
York, said that dinnertime was impor-
tant to the family. "We did answer the
phones at dinner, but my dad would
always call back:' he said. "I can't
express the amount of pride I have in
the work they've done for the com-
munity. Aside from just giving money,
they've spent a lot of time and got a
lot of other people involved."
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20
September 28 * 2006
e r o
Hands On
Early volunteer involvement for both
began in the early 1970s, in a grass-
roots campaign called CANS — Cans
Against Needless Starvation.
"We became aware that there were
isolated Jewish poor people living in
the city who were hungry',' Diane said.
"On Sunday mornings, Emery and
I would load up the car, pick up our
bags of food at a central location, and
make our deliveries. We were shocked.
One woman was living in a converted
garage, with no friends or family —
only her dog.
"We came home crying all the time:'
she said. "We figured something had
to be done, and we had to bring this to
the attention of the community!'
Emery contacted Federation. It
sent him to Jewish Family Service.
They wanted to put together a study
on what to do; Emery wanted action.
So he joined the JFS board, did some
pushing and CANS, renamed the
Poverty Program, became a flagship
program.
Federation asked Emery to serve
on the Hebrew Free Loan Association
board, then Yad Ezra. The Kleins'
involvement started to grow Both
agencies were extremely important
because they were hands-on in help-
ing the most needy in the community.
Politically, the Kleins aligned with
the Democratic Party because of
social issues, Emery said. In 1986,
with David Hermelin of Bingham
Farms, he formed MOPAC, a local
political action committee supporting
Democratic candidates for Congress.
A natural solicitor, he already was
raising money for Jewish causes. "I
don't know how he brings the money
out of this community," Diane said,
but "he's fearless!'
Emery said the first name on their
solicitation list is theirs. "We always
give the best quality gift we can," he
said. "I might give $2,000, but I'm not
too bashful to ask for $20,000. There's
no reason not to!'
When he added behind-the-scenes
political involvement and fundraising
to their volunteerism, his influence
began to rise.
"Emery's political involvement has
been very interesting:' Diane said.
"The phone would ring during dinner,
and it would be Torn Daschle, or Harry
Reid, or Al Gore, or Hillary [Clinton)."
"During the Clinton era, it was
nothing unusual for us to be in the
White House:' Emery added.
In 1992, Emery and Bernie sold the
company, and Emery stayed on for
three years to help the new owners,
the Pritzker family in Chicago.
He retired in 1995, but hasn't been
idle for a minute, ever.
Two years ago, he "retired" from
MOPAC, but he's still heavily involved,
and he still gets calls from almost
every Democratic candidate running
for national office.
Right now, 80 percent of his time is
spent behind the scenes fundraising
for the Democratic Party and his good
friend Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.
"I rein Emery in more now for two
reasons:' Diane said. "His range of
involvement is greater now and in
more varied things. Also, I think it's
at a point in his life where he needs to
quiet it down a little bit."
Quiet is a relative term.
Emery works out three times a
week with a trainer and plays in a
weekly poker game. Diane is learning
to play golf.
Both dote over their four grand-
children. "That's our pride and joy,"
he said, gazing at the family portrait
hung on the wall in the living room.
Life is good, Emery says. "I've
nothing to complain about. Before
I complain, I lift my shirtsleeve and
look at my number." Li
Emery and Diane Klein will be
honored at the Federation/
Foundation annual meeting at
7 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Jewish
Community Center in West
Bloomfield. In honor of the
Jewish New Year, the Kleins will
host a reception afterwards,
open to the public at no charge.