Maxwell Paul Kleiman ’82

Maxwell Paul Kleiman ’82 died unexpectedly on January 24, 2009, in Washington, D.C., the College recently learned. A native of Manhattan, Max was born October 21, 1960, to Dr. A.H. and Micheline Kleiman. He graduated from the High School of Music & Art in New York City. Max lived in North Fayerweather his freshman year at Dartmouth and also participated in the freshman show. He was a history major and a member of WFRD radio station. Max moved to Washington, D.C., following graduation. Classmate Gina Blus remembers Max as a gifted musician who had been admitted to Julliard. She notes: “He had perfect pitch and could mimic any song he heard on a variety of instruments, but piano was his forte. He often played at the Top of the Hop.” Gina adds that, “Dartmouth was a challenging place for Max, a city kid trapped in the wilderness of Hanover without the fast pace and cultural variety of urban life.” Classmate Joanne McMullen recalls, “We had scintillating discussions into the night on all manner of intellectual and artistic ideas.” Max’s closest friend freshman year, classmate Daniel Mapel, recalls that Max loved Billy Joel and thought the following lyrics from “New York State of Mind” were especially apropos: “It comes down to reality/And it’s fine with me ’cause I’ve let it slide/Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside/I don’t have any reasons/I’ve left them all behind/I’m in a New York state of mind.” Max is survived by sisters Marilyn and Dena, brother Sam and several nieces and nephews.