Talia Stella Klein
Talia Stella Klein, born December 3, 1994, was tragically killed on December 23, 2007, along with her father, Michael Klein. Talia and Michael shared the same birthday, and in a very sad coincidence, the same day of death.
Talia and her father, along with Talia’s dear friend, Frankie Lewis, were flying by small charter plane from her father’s eco-resort off the coast of Panama, to Volcan, Panama to visit friends before flying home to the United States.
Talia was an accomplished equestrian, winning numerous awards in both Equitation and Hunters, and was looking forward to attending the USEF, PCHA and Northern California Hunter Jumper Associations’ award banquettes this coming January, where she was to receive numerous awards for her accomplishments in the 2007 show year. Among the awards were the NORCAL Equitation Championship, and championships and high earnings in both PCHA and USEF zone 10 associations. Talia was very proud of her accomplishments and of her beloved horse, Justinian, who was champion in multiple divisions as well. Talia was looking forward to showing both Justinian, and her new horse, Ooh La La in the 2008 show season.
Talia also had a great passion for volleyball and loved to play tennis, snorkel with her father, kayak and hike, travel with her mother, and she really really loved to dance! Besides her family and dear friends, Talia’s greatest loves were her horses, and her dogs, Zippy, Gunther, Merl and Dobby.
Talia loved her friends, dearly, and was a faithful and generous friend to all.
It is a tragedy that such a kind, thoughtful, wise, generous, fun, and energetic young girl would be taken from us just when her life was beginning. Talia had the intelligence and the will to accomplish anything she wanted to do. Though only in seventh grade, Talia was hoping to attend Stanford University. She was thinking about becoming a patent litigator, but recently mentioned that she thought being a quantum physicist sounded interesting. Whatever her choice, Talia would have accomplished miracles in her chosen field. This is a terrible, tragic and painful loss for everyone that knew her. Our loss is truly the world’s loss, as we know Talia would have accomplished so much and for so many.
Talia is survived by her devoted mother Kim, her grandparents Millie Klinger-Campbell, Ted Campbell, Dr. Robert Klein and Lynne Cantlay, Anne and Bill Cover, her Uncle Justin Campbell and Aunt and Uncle Linda and Jim Matlock, cousins Gabriel, Jackson, Catalina, Claire, Eli and her Great-Grandfather Abe Greenberg and Great-Grandmother Amy Klein, as well as many devoted friends and family members of our community and worldwide.
In Leiu of flowers, donations in Talia’s memory can be made to the Talia S. Klein Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank, Montecito, which will be used to fund the Talia S. Klein Perpetual Trophies for Equitation in the Nor Cal and PCHA associations, as well as other causes that Talia felt passionately about. Please contact Ryan Rose at Wells Fargo Montecito Branch at 805-969-3242 or Mail directly to: Wells Fargo, 1482 East Valley Road, Montecito, California, 93108 Attn: Ryan Rose.