John Laurel Kline

He was a man of music and nature who believed, "As one person, do what you can."

John Laurel Kline died after a short illness on February 8 at Sedona Winds, where he lived the last three weeks of his life. He was 94.

Over his long productive life, Mr. Kline touched thousands of lives.

He began his teaching career in 1940 in Tulare County, California where he taught for over thirty years - with a two year leave during World War II when the young army soldier saw action in the European Theater.

He married his wife and greatest supporter, Kathaleen, in 1941, while she was a 2nd grade teacher. They raised three children and lived a life of adventure, with Mrs. Kline making a home for the family in many unusual places.

In 1959, National Geographic magazine found the family in a remote cabin in the back country of Sequoia National Park, where Mr. Kline served as a ranger and a naturalist for 16 summers.

In 1960, the family moved to Christchurch, New Zealand where Mr. Kline was a Fulbright Exchange Scholar. He organized a youth orchestra in a country without school music programs, making it such a success that children were flown to the nation's capital in Wellington to perform.

The U.S. State Department noted Mr. Kline was "one of the most successful exchange teacehrs who ever participated in the program."

Back in Tulare County Mr. Kline was named Teacher of the Year - his students lovingly called him "Crinkle Nose".

He was a founder of California's pioneering science / conservation program for youth called SCICON that has spread throughout the nation and remains successful to this day.

In 1974, he received the SCICON "Service to Mankind Award" and was honored again in 2008 with the SCICON "Founders Award".

The beautiful Grand Canyon lured the Klines from California to Arizona. While working at the Canyon, John and Kathaleen discovered Sedona, and persuaded their daughters to move here.

Kathleen and Mary Margaret followed their parent's advice and came to Sedona in 1969, establishing a pottery shop. Mary Margaret operates the Sedona Pottery to this day making it one of the city's oldest retail establishments.

Her parents were always supportive. For over 20 years Mrs. Kline managed the shop and for 15 years, until he became ill, Mr. Kline was her right-hand-man in her pottery.

Mr. Kline's Arizona years began as a ranger at the Grand Canyon, where he founded a junior ranger program and started the Canyon's astronomy program. The National Park Service honored him with its "Citation for Superior Service".

Meanwhile he became active in Northern Arizona Audobon Society, serving as its president in 1979. He led bird walks and astronomy in Red Rock State Park and for a time wrote a weekly bird column for the Sedona newspaper.

Mr. Kline made some of his most lasting contributions while teaching in the Sedona public school system. He was hired to teach sixth grade at Brewer Road School, but soon established an after school music program and attracted many students. He continued his music classes until he was well into his 80's. In their spare time Mr. and Mrs. Kline raised guide dogs for the blind.

Mr. Kline's love of music was the symphony of his life that he joyously shared.

He first picked up a violin when he was a boy in fourth grade and last bowed violin strings the week before his death.

For 27 years he played with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra; he was a founding member of the Sedona Sinfonietta. Up until the end, he played Tuesday mornings with a quartet of Sedona musicians and played Wednesday nights with the Strings Secondo.

His wife, Kathaleen, preceeded him in death in 2004.

This beloved man is survived by his son Ron, a retired teacher in California; daughter Kathleen Kline, who works with the OLLI program at Yavapai Community College; his daughter Mary Margaret Sather, a potter and sculptor, and her architect husband John; many friends and admirers; and his dog Speck.