David Bailey Van Kleeck, 85, of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on October 23, 2019. A devoted husband, father, and successful attorney, he possessed a keen sense of humor and enjoyed many intellectual pursuits throughout his life.
David was born October 4, 1934 in Poughkeepsie, New York to David and Gladys (Bailey) Van Kleeck. After serving in the Army during the Korean Conflict, he received an A.B. cum laude from Harvard College where he was a member of Dunster House and the Class of 1960. Then, he attended Harvard Law School graduating with an LL.B. in 1964, the same year he was admitted to the Florida Bar. He practiced civil law for 35 years, retiring to Vero Beach after a career that included high-profile cases during the Savings and Loan crisis in the 1980s. He was widely known by his peers and colleagues for his unimpeachable ethical integrity.
His passions included jazz music, particularly Dixieland and the music of Count Basie, and Muskie fishing in Canada. He volunteered for various charitable organizations, and was given a Lifetime Achievement award for 25 years of service to the Elizabeth Faulk Foundation and the Center for Group Counseling in Boca Raton, Florida.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Lorraine Wetherald, and her sons Rick Wetherald and his wife Jennifer of Bakersfield, California, and Neal Wetherald and his wife Priscilla of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Also surviving are his first wife Janet (Severy) Van Kleeck of Lake Worth, Florida and their two sons, David A. Van Kleeck and his wife Kathy of Gainesville, Florida and John S. Van Kleeck and his wife Kim of Melbourne Beach, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Rose Fraser of Hendersonville, North Carolina and Ruth Klimas of Fletcher, North Carolina.
A Memorial Gathering of family and friends was held on November 3rd, 2019.
Published, slightly modified, in the TC Palm from October 29 to November 1, 2019.
