Irwin Klein

Delray Beach, FL: Irwin Klein passed away peacefully on July 7, 2026. He was living at Arden Courts with his wife Dorothy and cared for by loving staff and caregivers. Thank you all. Irwin was born on Jan. 28, 1943, in the Bronx, NY. His parents were Minnie and Larry Klein; he had one older brother, Victor, who is deceased. Irwin is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dorothy, and beloved stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends. Known as “Poppa Irwin” by his grandchildren, he was an intellectual who also loved Star Wars, Star Trek, and Disney. Irwin was quiet, witty, smart, patient, dependable, mathematical, artistic, and curious. He attended Peter Stuyvesant High School and the City College of NY, both in Manhattan. He graduated from CCNY in 1964 with a degree in Civil Engineering. After a short marriage to Ellen Lee that ended in divorce, he married Dorothy Grubman on Feb. 14, 1986. They met in a Jewish social club. He was younger than her, and she always said she was the original "cougar!" Yet they matched in temperament and interests. Irwin and Dorothy lived in Queens (Woodside) and then Westchester (Hartsdale) NY. They bought a condo in Delray Beach in 2004 and settled close to extended family including Dorothy’s brother Freddie and sister-in-law Lisa, and Dorothy’s nephew Jerry and wife Florence, as well as other friends. They split their time between NY and Florida. Irwin loved the flora and fauna of South Florida, as well as the social life they had there including organized dinners, ocean cruising, concerts, and comedy shows. He also had many hobbies including photography, Sci-fi books and movies, Doo-wop music, bowling, and playing the stock market. He and Dorothy traveled to many countries and US ports of call. They also bought a timeshare in Disney World/Orlando and spent time there with the grandchildren. Later in life, Irwin took up fine art painting, doll house construction, and orchid- and bonsai-growing. He liked doing intricate puzzles and crosswords. He was a true Renaissance Man... yet loved the pancakes at the Waffle House and piled-high sandwiches at Jewish delis. Irwin worked as a Civil Engineer. He was employed by a few different organizations but worked the longest for the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, from which he retired. At the TBTA, he was Assistant Chief Engineer and oversaw construction, maintenance, and flow of bridges and tunnels. His team also developed EZ Pass. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and was a Kohen, a sacred Jewish lineage of priests. A lifelong Democrat, Irwin followed both local and national politics and could be heard talking back to the TV when he disagreed with something. He and Dorothy quietly donated to nonprofits, political organizations, and nature groups they cared about. At age 79, Irwin was diagnosed with dementia, and two years later, had a stroke that left him paralyzed on his left side. He was left-handed so obviously, this made life difficult but with no complaining, he switched over to his right hand. Irwin and Dorothy moved to assisted living in 2022 but after his stroke, ended up in Arden Courts, a memory care facility. Even in dementia, he often won at trivia. Irwin was well-liked there and had a beloved nurse, Colleen McHenry. Irwin is survived by his wife Dorothy, step-sons Stew (Cathy) Grubman and Rob (Carol) Grubman; grandchildren Julia (Matt) Crooks, David (Jenna) Grubman, and Jennifer Grubman; great-grandchildren Ziggy Grubman, Rose Grubman, Jamie Crooks and Lane Crooks; nieces and nephews including Gabriella (Eric) Mackey; Gillian Messina (Mike Schiavone) and Lily Schiavone; Lisa (Mark) Sandor, Kyle Sandor, Scott (Talya) Sandor: and more beloved family and friends.

Irwin Klein

January 28, 1943 - July 7, 2026