Ralph z”l and Shirley z”l S. Klein, the founders of Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland, made “going to Klein’s” synonymous with food shopping for four generations of Harford County residents. In the 1960s and 1970s, Klein’s became the go-to place for residents in northern Harford County. Shirley worked alongside Ralph in the store, which grew into one of the Baltimore region’s largest independent supermarket chains.

Known for their numerous acts of kindness, Ralph and Shirley earned a reputation for helping those in need, particularly local families and employees facing personal or financial hardships. Despite their success, they lived modestly and remained deeply connected to their roots. They were founding members of Temple Adas Shalom in Havre de Grace, lifelong congregants of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, and supporters of the Jewish National Fund, B’nai B’rith International, and Israel Bonds. Both Shirley and Ralph were highly active in Harford County’s Jewish Community, as well as in various Baltimore Jewish organizations. Although their lives were slightly removed from the traditional Baltimore Jewish community, Ralph and Shirley were trailblazers in bringing Jewish values to the non-Jewish residents of Harford County, profoundly changing the perceptions of Jewish people in the rural area north of Baltimore. They raised a family mindful of their Jewish heritage and with deep love for Israel.

Ralph served as a director of Forest Hill State Bank for over two decades, guiding it through its merger with Mercantile Bancorp, now part of PNC Bank. He focused on providing start-up loans for medical, agricultural, and other local businesses. Beyond their business ventures, Ralph and Shirley were dedicated to improving healthcare in Harford County. They encouraged physicians to open practices locally and developed an office park near their store with medical buildings and an assisted living facility.

Shirley spearheaded a campaign to build a hospital in the area, leading to a $10 million capital campaign for the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center which opened in Bel Air in 2000. The hospital, now part of the University of Maryland Medical System, received several leadership gifts from the Kleins, whose names are honored in the main lobby and on the Klein Ambulatory Care Center. They also donated land for Senator Robert Hooper Hospice.

The Kleins contributed land for the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company’s Forest Hill substation and funded the Harford Equestrian Center’s observation tower. They also established the Klein’s Shoprite Charitable Fund which has raised more than $1million through its annual golf tournament and directs funds to local community nonprofit initiatives.

Ralph and Shirley raised three sons, Andrew, Michael, and Howard, who became full, equal partners in the family business. Today, although Andy and Howard have passed away, Michael and five of the eight Klein grandchildren are involved in the supermarkets, real estate ventures, and philanthropic efforts.