Some of you will remember Hey Taxi, aka Fred Klein, from Brain Talk days. I was just thinking about him today and sent him an email to see how he was doing. But I had a funny feeling since I had not heard from him in a very long time. After a bit of searching on the Internet, I learned that Fred passed away July 28, 2007.

Fred was a radio announcer for more than 20 years, a car salesman, and then a taxi driver. He had a great sense of humor despite his advanced PD and living alone in a trailer with his cat Corky. May he rest in peace.

=============
I found Fred's obituary posted on line at this url http://www.cflradio.net/what's_news.htm along with some links to a brief biography, photos, and more about Fred and his career as a radio personality.

=============
Fred Klein's Obituary From Lancaster Online 7-31-07
Frederic Ferree Klein, 71, died Saturday, July 28, at the Lancaster General Hospital after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Fred was born on February 4, 1936 in Lancaster. He was preceded in death by his parents, Professor Frederic Shriver Klein and Florence Haenle Klein of Lancaster. Klein graduated from Manheim Township High School, and attended Mercersburg Academy. He also studied at Franklin and Marshall College. He was a veteran of the US Air Force during the Korean War. In the early 60s he obtained his first job at WGAL radio on an afternoon jazz show. He made a switch to rock n roll at WLAN radio in 1963. He continued to work along the East Coast as a dj/radio announcer including stints in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, Florida. In 1987, he returned to Lancaster and was employed by Friendly Transportation. Fred's interest was always music, especially jazz, big bands, and later, rock n roll. He also was especially fond of animals, and he made many contributions to the Lancaster County Humane League. He was a life-long member of his family's Shriver Homestead, an historic Civil War museum in Union Mills, Maryland. He is survived by his sister, Joan Klein Weidman of Millersville, and three children, Joseph Shriver Klein, John Wayne Klein, and Julie Anne Klein. He has six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A private interment will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions in Fred's name may be sent to Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD 21158, or the Parkinson's Disease Association, 1250 Hyland Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305.

Fred, "HeyTaxi", was one of a kind; a great sense of humor and approach to life. He had many friends in the BT forum. I'm sad that PD finally had its way with him.

Judith - thank you so much for thinking of him, looking for him, and letting us know. It is so easy to let someone slip away.

Judith, my friend, thank you for sharing this news. I too remember Hey Taxi from BrainTalk.

Hope you two....aha six (puppies and ponies, included...not counting any fish) are doing well.

as an "energetic" and witty member, one of the "must reads".

God speed Fred.

Neil.

p.s. Judith I echo Indigogo's comments re. keeping in touch, thankyou.

p.p.s I wonder what Fred would have made of the tone of BT2 lately !

I remember talking back and forth about our kitties and jazz. I sent him some DBD's of a jazz band my husband, a drummer, plays in and he enjoyed them very much. I hope they found a home for his kitty who he loved very much, although the kitty was getting hard to take care of. The kitty, Fred thought, would not outlive him. What a wonderful love the cat must have had for Fred to hang in with him to the bitter end.

Do you suppose they actually admitted on his death certificate that the cause of his death was Parkinson's or only due to the underlying cause of Parkinson's disease?

Be at peace, Fred. That veterans hospital wasn't the most cooperative place was it. I hope they gave you listening headphones so you can hear the great jazz band in the sky.

Love,
Vicky

Judith,
Thanks for letting us know about Fred "Hey Taxi". I remember him from BrainTalk. His wit, humor, and aproach to life in general were unique. He will be missed.

GregD

this has been a season of loss for many-
however I believe

DEATH is not the end , but a beggining, for we have an eternal soul...
God Bless heytaxi's family.

Judith much appreciation for letting us know about Fred. I considered him a friend as well and have been wondering about him. I miss him; he could express an opposite opinion without hurting anyone....a caring man.

Paula

Judith,

Thank-you for posting. I am so very sorry. He was a very good man and his heart was always ready to help others.

kathy

Thanks everyone,

Your memories of Fred are much like mine. Many of us considered him our friend and saw him as a kind and gentle man with a quick wit.

I exchanged emails with Fred for several years and one particular email from him stands out for me. He and I discussed it at length because it was particularly meaningful to both of us. It contained an excerpt from a 1996 commencement address by Carl Sagan in which Sagan commented on a photo of earth taken from space where the earth appears as a tiny pale blue dot. Sagan said, Fred was moved by Sagan's words. He certainly was a kind and compassionate person and our lives are richer for having known him. Let us honor his memory with kindness and compassion and caring for this pale blue dot.

Judith
========
To view a short film "We Are Here: The Pale Blue Dot," narrated by Carl Sagan:
http://palebluefilms.com