Tibor (Teddy) Klein, Holocaust Survivor

Tibor Klein, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor and seasonal Montauk resident who kept a boat at Navy Road there for many years, died yesterday at Chilton Hospital in Pompton Plains, N.J. Known as Teddy, he was 82 and had suffered from heart disease for many years.

Mr. Klein loved fishing, both from the beach and from his boat, and was proud of a trophy he earned for a striped bass he caught while surfcasting. He enjoyed fixing things and giving new life to items he found at the Montauk recycling center. He also enjoyed growing vegetables, cooking, and entertaining.

Born in Budapest on Jan. 30, 1932, he was the son of Izidor Klein and the former Karolina Steiner. He grew up there and became a master electrician, with training in cardiac monitors. He had played soccer in his native country, gone on long-distance bike rides, and was in a singing group.

In 2012, Mr. Klein spoke of his experiences during the Holocaust at a Yom Ha’Shoah remembrance at the Jewish Center of the Hamptons in East Hampton. He fought in the Hungarian revolution of 1956 and drove an ambulance back and forth to Austria before coming to the United States.

In February of 1957, he was married to Barbara Cantor. The couple later separated, but remained cordial. Ms. Cantor survives.

After immigrating to this country, Mr. Klein became a chief maintenance engineer at Beth Israel Hospital in Passaic, N.J. He lived in Paterson, N.J., from 1956 to 1958, and then in Clifton, N.J. He was a member of Passaic County Elks Club and the New Jersey Sportsmen’s Club, and he was a Mets fan who loved watching the team’s games.

Mr. Klein is survived by three children, Charlotte Klein Sasso of Amagansett, Michael Klein of Cranbury, N.J., and Harry Klein of North Caldwell, N.J. A brother, Eugene Klein of Miami, and three grandchildren also survive.

A service will be held this morning at the Jewish Memorial Chapel in Clifton, with Rabbi Eric Wisnia of Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction, N.J., presiding. Burial will follow at the Menorah Cemetery in Clifton.

Memorial contributions have been suggested to the Deborah Hospital, deborahfoundation.org, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, jdrf.org, or the Jewish Center of the Hamptons, 44 Woods Lane, East Hampton 11937.