Memorial Resolution for Robert "Mendy" Klein
WHEREAS, Robert "Mendy" Klein died suddenly from a heart attack on May 3, 2018, at the age of 65; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed body has been notified of Robert "Mendy" Klein's passing by the Honorable Raymond Lopez, Alderman of the 15th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Robert Klein was born in 1952, one of three children of the late Jolan and Armin Klein of Budapest, Hungary. His parents were Holocaust survivors who fled Hungary when Russia invaded the country on Passover and moved their family to New York. He attended the Satmar kehilla school. He later studied at the yeshiva of the Tosher Rebbe and even lived in the Rebbe's home for several years; and
WHEREAS, Robert Klein married Ita Fried in the early 1970's. They had two sons: Yoni and Mati; and two daughters: Edna and Dina; and
WHEREAS, At the age of 16, Mendy started a taxicab business. In the early 1980's Mendy and his family moved to Cleveland. He took over his uncle's fruit and vegetable business for more than a decade before selling the business; and
WHEREAS, In 1990, Mendy Klein acquired Safeguard Properties, which preserves property in default. He was incredibly successful, growing the business to over one thousand employees, the largest mortgage field services company in the United States. He served as its President until 2010 and remained the Chairman of the Board until his untimely passing; and
WHEREAS, Mendy created Community Blight Solutions to understand and address the problems of economically disadvantaged communities and served as its Chairman. He also was co-founder and Chairman of SecureView. The company manufactures clear board, a patented product to secure buildings that looks like a window, thereby reducing break-ins and blight in a community. He has worked tirelessly with elected officials in the Chicagoland area to make abandoned properties attractive, safe and secure. The company's regional headquarters is in Chicago in the Eighteenth Ward; and
WHEREAS, R...
Click here for full text