By Ken Mcmillan
Posted: August 06, 2009 - 2:00 AM
POUGHKEEPSIE — Jackie Klein and her sister Morganne have shared a lot over the years, and it's no wonder they have developed similar work ethics and swimming styles.
Though four years apart in age, the Kleins, of Campbell Hall, have competed for the same high school and club teams over the course of their careers, and even in the same medley relay events, Jackie diving in for the butterfly portion just as Morganne touches the wall on her breaststroke leg.
It's been a rewarding experience for both, but time marches on and all good things must come to an end. Jackie is headed into her final season at Rutgers, and she doesn't expect to be competing much beyond the end of her senior year. Morganne will be a senior at Washingtonville High School and is looking forward to her shot at the college life, perhaps at MIT or RPI.
So this weekend's USA Swimming Eastern Section championships in Buffalo will be one of the final times the sisters will be able to compete together as members of the Marist Swim Club. The bond as teammates is strong, but the bond as family is forever.
"I know her better and I know her swimming better and I know what she reacts to better than a lot of my friends,'' Jackie said. "We have that different level of communication. She can tell me certain things and I get it, where other people might not understand.''
There was never a sense of rivalry because Jackie was always older and bigger and Morganne excelled in events different from her sister.
"She can beat me in the breaststroke now,'' Jackie said with little resignation. "That's OK, since that's my worst stroke.''
Having lived and trained together for so many years, it's no wonder the Kleins are near replicas.
"They are formed out of the same mold, almost identical, although they don't look alike,'' said club coach Larry Van Wagner. "Their approaches to training and competition are extremely identical.''
Van Wagner said the sisters aren't physically blessed with long, lean bodies, but they make up for any shortcomings with a determination and tenacity second to none.
"We motivate each other,'' Morganne said. "We work really hard at what we do. Since we swam on the same club teams growing up, we developed the same habits. Plus, I want to work hard to be just as good as her.''
In a sense, Jackie has always been Morganne's touchstone.
"There have been some practices where I didn't want to go, except she was swimming in the lane next to me, so if she's in the pool I have to keep on going,'' Morganne said. "When she won states, that instantly became my goal.''
Both have their goals established for the following year. Jackie wants to attain the Rutgers record in the 200 butterfly and score points at the Big East championships. Morganne wants to lead her Washingtonville team to a Section 9 title and medal in the 100 breaststroke at states.
The future is exciting for the sisters, but age will play a role soon enough. Jackie finds retirement hard to face, and Morganne said it probably won't hit her until next summer when her sister is not around.
"It's hard to talk about, my last year of swimming after doing it for so many years,'' Jackie said. "I know she's going to miss me in the pool and I am going to miss swimming with her a lot. Going into this last year, I want to be able to enjoy it, have a good time, set a good example for her to follow the next four years.''
kmcmillan@th-record.com
Monday, August 10, 2009
Article about Jacquelyn and Morganne in the Times Herald Record
By Ken Mcmillan
Posted: August 06, 2009 - 2:00 AM
POUGHKEEPSIE — Jackie Klein and her sister Morganne have shared a lot over the years, and it's no wonder they have developed similar work ethics and swimming styles.
Though four years apart in age, the Kleins, of Campbell Hall, have competed for the same high school and club teams over the course of their careers, and even in the same medley relay events, Jackie diving in for the butterfly portion just as Morganne touches the wall on her breaststroke leg.
It's been a rewarding experience for both, but time marches on and all good things must come to an end. Jackie is headed into her final season at Rutgers, and she doesn't expect to be competing much beyond the end of her senior year. Morganne will be a senior at Washingtonville High School and is looking forward to her shot at the college life, perhaps at MIT or RPI.
So this weekend's USA Swimming Eastern Section championships in Buffalo will be one of the final times the sisters will be able to compete together as members of the Marist Swim Club. The bond as teammates is strong, but the bond as family is forever.
"I know her better and I know her swimming better and I know what she reacts to better than a lot of my friends,'' Jackie said. "We have that different level of communication. She can tell me certain things and I get it, where other people might not understand.''
There was never a sense of rivalry because Jackie was always older and bigger and Morganne excelled in events different from her sister.
"She can beat me in the breaststroke now,'' Jackie said with little resignation. "That's OK, since that's my worst stroke.''
Having lived and trained together for so many years, it's no wonder the Kleins are near replicas.
"They are formed out of the same mold, almost identical, although they don't look alike,'' said club coach Larry Van Wagner. "Their approaches to training and competition are extremely identical.''
Van Wagner said the sisters aren't physically blessed with long, lean bodies, but they make up for any shortcomings with a determination and tenacity second to none.
"We motivate each other,'' Morganne said. "We work really hard at what we do. Since we swam on the same club teams growing up, we developed the same habits. Plus, I want to work hard to be just as good as her.''
In a sense, Jackie has always been Morganne's touchstone.
"There have been some practices where I didn't want to go, except she was swimming in the lane next to me, so if she's in the pool I have to keep on going,'' Morganne said. "When she won states, that instantly became my goal.''
Both have their goals established for the following year. Jackie wants to attain the Rutgers record in the 200 butterfly and score points at the Big East championships. Morganne wants to lead her Washingtonville team to a Section 9 title and medal in the 100 breaststroke at states.
The future is exciting for the sisters, but age will play a role soon enough. Jackie finds retirement hard to face, and Morganne said it probably won't hit her until next summer when her sister is not around.
"It's hard to talk about, my last year of swimming after doing it for so many years,'' Jackie said. "I know she's going to miss me in the pool and I am going to miss swimming with her a lot. Going into this last year, I want to be able to enjoy it, have a good time, set a good example for her to follow the next four years.''
kmcmillan@th-record.com
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Alice K. Cullen (Klein) was born St. Mary's, Pa. August 27, 1913 to Katharine Hurley and Victor Klein, Shortly after Alice was born, she was stolen away by our Grandmothers family (the Hurley's) to be Baptized a Catholic. Alice married Francis Egbert Cullen May 20, 1937 whom she met while working at Gimbals Department Store in Manhattan. Alice and Frank, had two children Victor born May 9,1939 and Kathleen (Kathy) Born November 1,1942. Alice was rumored to have played in two movies and appeared on the cover of Life Magazine during WW-II. Frank was touted as the next Rudolph Valentino and was working as a Broadway dancer part time. My earliest recollection of Alice was when we lived in Woodside, NY in 1942. I was always driving her nuts, running away exploring, even at 4 years old. My Mom eventually had to put a harness around me and attach me to the front railing of the house while she hung our clothes on a line. I was known to disappear in the blink of an eye.
Mom and Dad moved around quite a bit as I can remember. After Woodside, we moved to Oceanside, NY followed quickly to, Alexander, VA 1st time , Binghamton, NY, Richmond, VA then back to Alexandria 2nd time. They took Kathy and I to the White House a couple years in a row for the annual Easter Egg Hunts as well as one time to Mount Vernon for their Easter egg hunt. One time around during a winter storm 1947, or 48, my Mom couldn't find Kathy or I anywhere around the house. As it had turned out, we had just one to town by ourselves to see Santa Claus. The police found us crossing a bridge and took us home. I thought Mom would kill us, but no Alice after a small crying spell just hugged us and laughed about it everytime she told the story. My Mom also had a tendency to mix up words one time she was talking to some friends about how well our cousin Peter Holmes was such a good skier, she said 'we should see Skeeter Pee". My Mom was a beautiful women, especially when she dressed as a cigarette girl for Halloween party when we lived in Binghamton, NY, I can close my eyes and see her to this day leaving for the party..
While we were living in Alexandria VA 2nd time, Mom and I were in the apartment just hanging around when Kathy who was playing outside came running in. She never said a word, just ran to the sink and got a cup or water and went outside. This was repeated a couple of times. Mom then asked me to follow her, so I did into the woods near us. What did I find Kathy doing, she was trying to put out a forest fire she and her friend started. We all went home and called the fire department. For once I wasn't in trouble, our Mom was furious..
Our Mom was also a psychic, one time when I only had a learners permit and Mom went to visit a friend, I took the car and of course had to drive right past the house she was visiting. Big mistake as I drove back into the driveway, there was Mom standing there, took me by my ear and up to the bedroom I went. There was another time she used her psychic powers and a little help from Kathy. I was grounded one Friday night ( I was supposed to go to a party), well Yup I snuck out again and went to the party. I have no idea how she caught me, but about 1 hour into the party who was staring thru the window motioning me to come out. After a few times of me saying no, I went out and again up to my room I went.
Mom always wanted to go to Hawaii, She and Dad had a bottle she used to throw money into for the trip. Unfortunately my Dad passed away before they could go. Mom was terrified of flying, but in 1995 I dared he to go with Jeanette (my wife) and I to go to Hawaii. She had a great time, we had lunch at the Hotel southern end of the island in Wailua ... Resort in Princeville, overlooking Hanalei Bay (where South Pacific was filmed). She had her blue drink on the patio. We all had a fantastic time, to her just being where they filmed South Pacific was a dream fulfilled.
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