Doris Weiss Klepper

She lived a purposeful life devoted to her family and others, and most prized her roles as daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. She leaves behind two sons, Russell (Carla) and Brian (Elaine), a sister, Irma (Sheldon) Blattner, and three grandchildren, Joel, Matthew (Jessica) and Courtney (Justin Dunn).

Born in Bronx, NY to Samuel and Anna Weiss on July 25, 1921, her family moved to Jacksonville in 1933, settling in Springfield. She became part of the Jewish community here and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. A beauty in her youth, she was known for most of her life for her grace, dignity, pragmatism and intelligence. As a young woman early in World War II, she became a nurse, a point of pride. She once said, “One of a nurse’s most important jobs is making patients as comfortable as possible.”

Her 60 year marriage to Raphael Klepper, also from Jacksonville, was the center of her life. They were devoted, with a deep, abiding love that managed to transcend most of life’s troubles. They tragically lost their first child, Scott, when he was four, in an event that colored the rest of her life. They moved to Fleet Landing in Atlantic Beach in 1999. Raphael passed away in 2003. The family is deeply grateful for the wonderful care and warmth they found there.

Doris was a voracious reader and was intent on making positive contributions. She learned braille and for decades transcribed children’s books which were replicated by the Library of Congress. Working through the Jacksonville Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, she helped found the Guardian Ad Litem program, now a national organization in which adult advocates volunteer to represent children’s interests in legal proceedings.

In late middle age, she and Raphael traveled extensively, first around the US and then around the world. They were expert travelers and world citizens who researched their destinations before they went, absorbing the history and culture, and invariably finding ways to mingle with locals. They accumulated and corresponded with the friends they made for years afterwards.

Doris believed strongly in love’s power to make things right. This theme was reflected in her favorite book and song: Richard Llewellyn’s How Green Was My Valley and the Inkspots’ I Don’t Want To Set the World on Fire.

A graveside service will be held Friday, April 12, at 10am in the Temple section of Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Foundation or the Alzheimers Foundation of America.