HLS 19RS-2857 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 189
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences on the death of Donna Klein
1 A RESOLUTION
2To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Donna G.
3 Klein.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
5Louisiana House of Representatives have learned of the death of one of Louisiana's brightest
6lights, Donna Klein, on May 14, 2019, at the age of seventy-two; and
7 WHEREAS, Donna Klein was born on January 30, 1947, in Philadelphia, to Frank
8H. and Margaret T. Guinn; and
9 WHEREAS, when Donna was growing up, her father was in the Army and her family
10moved from state to state, living in Texas, New Jersey, Virginia, and finally, Florida; she
11earned an associate degree in nursing at Manatee Junior College (now known as Manatee
12Technical College) in Bradenton, Florida, and thereafter moved to New Orleans to work in
13Ochsner Foundation Hospital's intensive care unit, eventually becoming acting supervisor;
14and
15 WHEREAS, she met and married Russell Klein and walked away from her nursing
16career; a year later, she signed up for political science classes at Loyola University, and at
17the age of twenty-seven, with two children and five years of nursing experience, Donna
18decided to pursue a law degree; and
19 WHEREAS, armed with a bachelor of arts in political science from Loyola and a
20juris doctorate from Tulane, she went on to develop an expertise in health care law; Donna
21was one of the first female healthcare attorneys in the city of New Orleans; in September
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HR NO. 189
12018 Donna retired as general counsel for Peoples Health Network, a Medicare Advantage
2organization with more than seventy-five thousand members; and
3 WHEREAS, prior to joining Peoples Health, Donna was managing partner of
4McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC, in its New Orleans office, head of the healthcare group, partner
5in charge of marketing, and a member of its management committee; and
6 WHEREAS, she was active in the New Orleans community and was involved in
7dozens of non-profit pursuits, including serving as a member of the boards of City Year New
8Orleans, the Dryades YMCA, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Orleans
9Center for the Creative Arts, the Louisiana Children's Museum, and the Earnest N. Morial
10Convention Center; she served on the Board of Regents and was chair of the American Heart
11Association Metro New Orleans Board of Directors, board member and head of the
12leadership program of the Metropolitan Area Committee/Committee for a Better New
13Orleans, and a member of the Bayou District of New Orleans Board of Commissioners; and
14 WHEREAS, Donna was recognized for her service numerous times: in 2008 New
15Orleans City Business inducted her into the Women of the Year Hall of Fame, an honor
16bestowed only upon those who have been named Woman of the Year three times or more;
17in 2003 she was the recipient of the Human Rights Campaign humanitarian award; Donna
18served on the health care transition teams for former governors Kathleen Blanco, Edwin
19Edwards, and Mike Foster; and
20 WHEREAS, Donna Klein was a tireless advocate for the New Orleans community
21at large and made paramount contributions to healthcare in Louisiana; she had a deep
22appreciation for the arts and enjoyed cooking and hosting people in her and Russell's home;
23and
24 WHEREAS, Donna G. Klein is survived by her children, Robin Klein and Steven
25Klein, and his wife Helen; sister, Margaret Scott, and her husband Greg; nieces, Brooke
26Nichols, and her husband Josh, and Tyler Wright, and her husband Kevin; nephews, Tucker
27Scott and Casan Scott, and his wife Jannie; brother-in-law, Edward J. Klein, Jr.; devoted
28dog, Jesse; and countless dear friends; and
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HR NO. 189
1 WHEREAS, although the death of Donna Klein has left a tremendous void in the
2healthcare and legal communities that she served so long and so well, her legacy shall live
3forever in the hearts and minds of all the citizens whose lives she touched.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
5Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express condolences upon the death of Donna G.
6Klein; does hereby recognize and record for posterity the contributions and accomplishments
7of Mrs. Klein, an exemplary citizen, nurse, lawyer, wife, mother, and friend, to the city of
8New Orleans and to our state and nation; and does hereby pay tribute to her for the generous
9and effective way in which she dedicated her intelligence and her energy to justice.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
11family of Donna Klein.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 189 Original 2019 Regular Session Leger
Expresses condolences of the House on the death of Donna Klein.
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