Philip D. Klein, 81, of Vernon, husband of Marcy (Werbner) Klein, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2026, at Vernon Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Born in Middletown, CT, he was the son of the late Max and Frances (Scamperino) Klein.

Phil’s life was characterized by hard work, dedication, and a passion for helping others. While attending high school and college, he worked several factory jobs before graduating from the University of Connecticut. He began his professional career at Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, where he successfully transformed one of the company’s poorly performing call centers, sparking a lifelong passion for customer service. After retiring from the corporate world, Phil discovered a new calling through Dog Listening, where he trained both dogs and their owners, helping hundreds of families create calmer and happier relationships with their pets.

Phil was an athlete throughout much of his life, playing varsity basketball and running cross country in high school. His love of running carried him through thousands of miles well into his seventies. Phil especially loved running the Manchester Road Race every Thanksgiving, a tradition he looked forward to for many years.

Phil had a strong passion for The Beatles, Larry Bird, UCONN basketball, and the New York Yankees. He enjoyed playing the guitar, especially his favorite Beatles songs. He was a lifelong friend to many and will be deeply missed.

In addition to his wife Marcy, Phil is survived by his son, Andrew Klein (Maria Delgadillo); his two daughters, Jessica Klein (John Trehy) and Becky Halpern (Zack Halpern); his brother, Jay Klein (Linda Klein); multiple nieces and nephews; his four beloved grandchildren, Alayna and Austin Trehy and Emilia and Jonah Halpern; and his dear dog, Sally. Though Phil may be gone from our sight, he will forever remain in our hearts.

For information on services, please contact Phil’s daughter, Becky, directly either on Phil’s cell phone or Facebook. In lieu of flowers, donations in Philip’s memory may be made to Labs4Rescue at https://www.labs4rescue.com/donate. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.