ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 189
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
A RESOLUTION
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Donna G.
Klein.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Louisiana House of Representatives have learned of the death of one of Louisiana's brightest
lights, Donna Klein, on May 14, 2019, at the age of seventy-two; and
WHEREAS, Donna Klein was born on January 30, 1947, in Philadelphia, to Frank
H. and Margaret T. Guinn; and
WHEREAS, when Donna was growing up, her father was in the Army and her family
moved from state to state, living in Texas, New Jersey, Virginia, and finally, Florida; she
earned an associate degree in nursing at Manatee Junior College (now known as Manatee
Technical College) in Bradenton, Florida, and thereafter moved to New Orleans to work in
Ochsner Foundation Hospital's intensive care unit, eventually becoming acting supervisor;
and
WHEREAS, she met and married Russell Klein and walked away from her nursing
career; a year later, she signed up for political science classes at Loyola University, and at
the age of twenty-seven, with two children and five years of nursing experience, Donna
decided to pursue a law degree; and
WHEREAS, armed with a bachelor of arts in political science from Loyola and a
juris doctorate from Tulane, she went on to develop an expertise in health care law; Donna
was one of the first female healthcare attorneys in the city of New Orleans; in September
2018 Donna retired as general counsel for Peoples Health Network, a Medicare Advantage
organization with more than seventy-five thousand members; and
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WHEREAS, prior to joining Peoples Health, Donna was managing partner of
McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC, in its New Orleans office, head of the healthcare group, partner
in charge of marketing, and a member of its management committee; and
WHEREAS, she was active in the New Orleans community and was involved in
dozens of non-profit pursuits, including serving as a member of the boards of City Year New
Orleans, the Dryades YMCA, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Orleans
Center for the Creative Arts, the Louisiana Children's Museum, and the Earnest N. Morial
Convention Center; she served on the Board of Regents and was chair of the American Heart
Association Metro New Orleans Board of Directors, board member and head of the
leadership program of the Metropolitan Area Committee/Committee for a Better New
Orleans, and a member of the Bayou District of New Orleans Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, Donna was recognized for her service numerous times: in 2008 New
Orleans City Business inducted her into the Women of the Year Hall of Fame, an honor
bestowed only upon those who have been named Woman of the Year three times or more;
in 2003 she was the recipient of the Human Rights Campaign humanitarian award; Donna
served on the health care transition teams for former governors Kathleen Blanco, Edwin
Edwards, and Mike Foster; and
WHEREAS, Donna Klein was a tireless advocate for the New Orleans community
at large and made paramount contributions to healthcare in Louisiana; she had a deep
appreciation for the arts and enjoyed cooking and hosting people in her and Russell's home;
and
WHEREAS, Donna G. Klein is survived by her children, Robin Klein and Steven
Klein, and his wife Helen; sister, Margaret Scott, and her husband Greg; nieces, Brooke
Nichols, and her husband Josh, and Tyler Wright, and her husband Kevin; nephews, Tucker
Scott and Casan Scott, and his wife Jannie; brother-in-law, Edward J. Klein, Jr.; devoted
dog, Jesse; and countless dear friends; and
WHEREAS, although the death of Donna Klein has left a tremendous void in the
healthcare and legal communities that she served so long and so well, her legacy shall live
forever in the hearts and minds of all the citizens whose lives she touched.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express condolences upon the death of Donna G.
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Klein; does hereby recognize and record for posterity the contributions and accomplishments
of Mrs. Klein, an exemplary citizen, nurse, lawyer, wife, mother, and friend, to the city of
New Orleans and to our state and nation; and does hereby pay tribute to her for the generous
and effective way in which she dedicated her intelligence and her energy to justice.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Donna Klein.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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