Obituary of Donald R. Kleber

Donald Raymond Kleber, 71, of Fairfield, CT, passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer on January 15th, 2024.

Donald was born in Hoboken, NJ in 1952 to Raymond and Marie Kleber and was joined shortly after by younger siblings, Raymond and Diane. He grew up in New Jersey and attended Monmouth University to play basketball and earn a bachelor's degree in accounting. Don met the love of his life, Julianne, in 1976 on a blind date through mutual friends. Won over by his sense of humor and gregarious personality, Julianne and Don married in 1978. They lived together in Norfolk, VA for a few years before buying the house they would turn into a home in Fairfield, CT in 1981.

Don's greatest ambition was to become a Special Agent for the FBI, which he accomplished when he graduated from the FBI Academy in 1977. He had a storied career in the Norfolk, New York, and New Haven field offices, serving on the SWAT team and conducting many high-profile violent crime and terrorism investigations throughout his 29-year career. Don responded to the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and worked at the FBI command post in Manhattan. The side effects from his time near Ground Zero ultimately included the uveal melanoma that took his life.

Don and Julianne's son, Matthew, also works for the FBI and lives in Washington, DC with his girlfriend Kara Fenclau. Don was heavily involved in every aspect of Matthew's upbringing, including coaching him in sports that Don had never played himself. Don was a patient, encouraging, and supportive father who was very proud of his son. Don will be missed by his many close friends from every stage of his life, many of whom are now close friends themselves because of Don. As they can attest, Don was the through-line across many groups of people.

He organized trips all over the country from white water rafting the Colorado River to biking the Erie Canal and everywhere in between. He was persistent about keeping in close touch and was known for getting people from different groups together to join in his many hobbies like biking, bowling, tennis, and more. Don was active in his faith and his local parish at St. Pius X Church, helping organize fundraiser picnics and attending mass on Sundays.

Don will always be remembered as a selfless leader in his local community where he served as Police Commissioner, on the Ethics Committee for the Fairfield Police Department, and as a board member of the Lake Hills Association. Don will always be remembered for his loyalty, problem solving, and the way that he never let an obstacle keep him from his goal. We'll sorely miss periodic text messages reminding us to "Make today a great day!" We couldn't have asked for a better husband, father, brother, and friend, and will miss Don every day.

Don was preceded in death by his mother, Marie and father, Raymond, and is survived by his wife, Julianne; his son, Matthew; his brother, Raymond and sister-in-law, Nanci; and his sister, Diane.

The wake will be on Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. in the Lesko Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, in Fairfield Center and the funeral will be on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield. Interment will follow at Lawncroft Cemetery, Fairfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Foundation General Fund of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI (https://www.socxfbi.org/SFSA/Donate/Donate.aspx) would be greatly appreciated.

For travel directions or to sign his online guest register, please visit www.LeskoFuneralHome.com