Robert J. Klapouchy

Robert James Klapouchy passed away unexpectedly at his home in Alexandria, Va. on Dec. 16, 2024, at the age of 82. 

Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, NJ on Wednesday, March 19 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. then to St. Stephen's R.C. Church, Kearny where an 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated. Inurnment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.

Mr. Klapouchy was born in Jersey City, NJ where he graduated top of his class at St. Anne’s Catholic School. He then went on to Regis High School, an all-scholarship Jesuit High School in NYC.

 Robert attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City on a full scholarship where he studied German and History.  He spent his junior year of college at the University of Graz in Austria.   His graduate work was done at the University of Texas at Austin while working as a teaching assistant and receiving his master’s degree in German.  After that, he attended the University of Wisconsin to study Scandinavian languages, receiving a 2nd master’s degree. 

 Robert settled in the Washington DC area where he was a Professor of German at the University of Maryland.  Eventually, he became employed with the Federal Maritime Commission where his knowledge of the German language and culture was a main staple of his career.

For many years he worked evenings at the Kennedy Center as an usher, which gave him the opportunity to pursue one of his great interests, the theater. Over the years he traveled often to Europe, primarily Germany & Scandinavia, meeting up with his friends.

 He was fond of Berlin and Hamburg, as he was of cities in general. He especially loved New York City.   His knowledge of the city, its history, culture, and transportation system were encyclopedic.   As long as he was able to, he enjoyed going to NYC over a weekend and trying new restaurants, going to the theater and experiencing the vibrant life of the neighborhoods he knew so well. 

He was a cherished son to John Klapouchy and Josephine Klapouchy (Milkiewicz), his brother John Klapouchy, and his nephew James Tencza, all who pre-deceased him.   He leaves behind his elder sister Loretta Tencza (Klapouchy) of St. Petersburg, FL, his sister-in-law Maureen Klapouchy of Freehold, and his nieces and nephews:  John Tencza of Sierra Vista, AZ , Robert Tencza of Tampa, FL, John Klapouchy of Freehold, NJ, and Donna Maurer (Klapouchy) of Pennington, NJ.  He also left several cousins, who loved and miss him very much. 

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