John Dennis Klingel of Eastham, MA, and San Anselmo, CA, passed away on July 23, 2024, at age 82. John graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Titusville, Pennsylvania, and Penn State University. He married the love of his life, Karen Sonne Klingel, in October 1964. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.
John is survived by his wife Karen Klingel, his daughter Holly Klingel (Stan Barnes), and three grandchildren: Katie, Andrew, and Connor Barnes. He is predeceased by his son John Nicholas Klingel. He is survived by niece Megan Burlingame (Rob), grand-nephew Henry Burlingame, and nephew Sean Hastings (Phensiri “Pan”).
Everything John did was driven by passion and commitment. He lived and breathed publishing and later devoted himself to photography, teaching classes in Marin and Cape Cod. John traveled the world perfecting his craft, capturing scenes from wild horses to tranquil beaches, embodying a spirit that never did anything halfway. His focus once he set his mind to something was unrivaled.
Throughout his career and his entire life, John was also a dedicated teacher and mentor, whether coaching soccer, guiding many in the fields of marketing and circulation, or leading photography workshops. His passion for sharing knowledge and nurturing talent touched countless lives.
The below synopsis reflects the "what" and "when" of John--what he did when in his career and over his life. We would love to hear all your John stories as we celebrate his incredible life. If you can’t join us in-person, please continue to share stories of the "who" and "how" of John - who he was and how he profoundly impacted your lives. We will all miss him dearly and he will live on in our hearts and memories.
John Dennis was an only child deeply loved by his parents, Elizabeth and John B. Klingel, who couldn’t have more children after his father was exposed to radiation while working on the Manhattan Project. He grew up in Titusville, Pennsylvania, and lived in a modern Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired house.
John was an active member of his community from a young age. He spent many summers as a counselor at a camp for children with cerebral palsy.
His childhood was also filled with mischievous pranks, and he delighted in sharing the hilarious stories behind them.
John’s passion for photography began at age 12. Always the overachiever, he earned a merit badge in Photography becoming an Eagle Scout, achieving a rank not usually accomplished until 17 years old. Starting with a 35mm film camera, he mastered exposures early on and continued his love for photography throughout his life. Eventually transitioning to digital photography, John taught workshops in Wildlife, Landscape, Creative Flower, HDR, and Creative Post Processing.
He traveled extensively, visiting six of the seven continents, including places like Kenya, Brazil, the Falkland Islands, British Columbia, Hudson Bay, Patagonia, Borneo, the Galapagos, and over 50 locations in the US. John’s local and global photography, coupled with his teaching, left a significant impact on both veteran and novice photographers.
Many who knew John knew him as a marketing “guru.” He began his illustrious 45-year career in publishing at McGraw Hill in 1964 and moved on to roles at American Education Publications, Saturday Review Magazine, Learning Magazine, and as a consultant for various prestigious clients, including Mother Jones, Science 80, Hippocrates, Texas Monthly, and American Express Publishing. He was inducted into the Publishing Hall of Fame, frequently spoke at the Folio Conference, and taught at the Stanford Publishing Course for 15 years.
He held prominent positions, including Vice President of Development for Time Publishing Ventures and President of Consumer Magazine Marketing at Reader’s Digest Association, retiring in 2006. John mentored many in the publishing and marketing fields, leaving a legacy of nurtured talent and innovative approaches.
In addition to work and photography, John was also a devoted soccer coach, skier, loving husband, father, uncle, and grandfather, and had a passion for politics and history. He also enjoyed gardening, backpacking, and other outdoor pursuits. His diverse interests and deep love for his family defined his personal life.
John’s legacy will continue through the many lives he touched, and he will be dearly missed by his family and all who knew him.
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