Church Congregation Creates New Scholarship Fund at UMass Boston
$456K Commitment Honors Former Philosophy Professor Klein
鈥� In remembering all that Reverend Klein has done, there is no school in Boston that represents who he was as much as UMass Boston. 鈥�
on Bowdoin Street in Boston鈥檚 Beacon Hill neighborhood has committed to a $456,000 gift over five years to UMass Boston鈥檚 Philosophy Department in honor of a former member and pastor, the Rev. Dr. Theodore 鈥淭ed鈥� Klein. Dr. Klein passed away in August at the age of 79, shortly after retiring as a faculty member in the Philosophy Department, where he taught for three decades. He leaves behind a loving family and adoring communities at both Church on the Hill and UMass Boston.
The newly established Rev. Dr. J. Theodore Klein Scholarship Fund at UMass Boston will provide a scholarship annually to one or more students with financial need studying ethics or philosophy.
鈥淵our endowed scholarship is a tremendous act of generosity that will continue Rev. Dr. Klein鈥檚 educational legacy,鈥� Chancellor Marcelo Su谩rez-Orozco wrote to Rev. Kevin Baxter, who guided the founding of the fund. 鈥淎s our largest scholarship for philosophy students, the Dr. Rev. J. Theodore Klein Scholarship will help our students arrive more quickly at their dreams by offering the resources they need to excel.鈥�
As an educator, Dr. Klein gave many 鈥渂rown bag鈥� talks in the department, as well as presentations to Philosophy Club students. He also published several books and papers on the ethics of care, education, service, social justice, and moral philosophy.
In addition to serving on the faculty at UMass Boston and other area 天美传媒s, Dr. Klein served in various capacities over the past 20 years at the Church on the Hill, known formally as the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian).
He shared his passion for philosophical debate with his fellow parishioners, who reveled in hearing about Dr. Klein鈥檚 students and their diverse backgrounds. He was also a talented photographer who enjoyed capturing images of Boston on his early morning commutes to campus.
鈥淐olleagues described his talks as 鈥榣ucid, perfectly insightful, and extremely interesting鈥� and summarized his personality as being [one of] the 鈥榮weetest, kindest, gentlest individuals whom I ever knew,鈥欌�� Rev. Baxter, pastor of Church on the Hill, said in a eulogy for Dr. Klein. 鈥淭he ethics of care was clearly at the center of his philosophical focus鈥is impact on students and faculty was such that, his ideas will reverberate forever and ever.鈥欌��
The Church had, for years, made private scholarships available to local students who had great ambition but lacked financial resources for 天美传媒, but found it was a challenging process. By creating the Klein Scholarship program at UMass Boston, the Church has no question that their generosity will improve the lives of diverse, driven, and curious students.
鈥淚n remembering all that Reverend Klein has done, there is no school in Boston that represents who he was as much as UMass Boston鈥� when you look at the issues of social justice that surround education鈥� UMass Boston is a lighthouse鈥erfect time, perfect moment, perfect place,鈥� Reverend Baxter shared when expressing why this scholarship was so important to his congregation.
Agreeing, and sharing her own perspective, Dr. Klein鈥檚 wife, Mary Kay, shared, 鈥淭he scholarships that Ted received going through his education made a big difference for him. He never would have been ordained or received his PhD without them. He definitely saw the importance of UMass Boston as an institution in the city of Boston鈥� he was a very compassionate and caring person. I think he tried to embody what he taught, and he did.鈥�