Arthur Klein, 73, civic booster and donor

Arthur Klein, 73, a passionate lifelong Philadelphian who led the restoration of Congress Hall, edited the Jewish Times and directed his family's Rittenhouse Foundation, died of kidney failure Thursday at Pennsylvania Hospital.

One of two children of prominent socialites/philanthropists Esther and Philip Klein, Mr. Klein lived on Rittenhouse Square.

After graduating from Central High School in 1951, he earned a bachelor's in 1955 from Haverford College and a master's in education in 1958 from the University of Pennsylvania.

Immediately following graduation, Mr. Klein took charge of the Jewish Times, which his father founded. Mr. Klein left the paper in 1971.

In 1959, Mr. Klein became owner and president of four cemeteries, including Philadelphia Memorial Park and Haym Salomon Cemetery in Frazer. In 1969, he founded Great Valley Pet Cemetery in Frazer. He got out of the business in 1985.

In 1980, he bought Bristol Gardens, an apartment complex of nearly 400 units in Lower Bucks County, which he operated until his death.

His civic activities were innumerable. He was chairman of Harcum College, head of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia Jaycees, treasurer of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, and active in several Jewish organizations. He was also responsible for keeping the national headquarters in Philadelphia of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America. The Rittenhouse Foundation awards grants totaling about $100,000 a year to nonprofit Philadelphia arts and education projects.

In 1990, Mr. Klein set a goal of raising $10 million from private groups for an endowment to maintain Independence Square. He tried a number of different methods to raise the money, including getting the U.S. Mint to issue a special coin and the use of direct mail, but none worked. Still, $400,000 was raised, and it was used to restore the interior of Congress Hall.

Mr. Klein married Marilyn Burnett in 1961. The couple had four children. She died in 1990.

For 16 years, an envelope sat on his desk that he told his children to open after his death. It included private thoughts and practical instructions, such as a wish for them to sell his collection of framed, original signatures of every president from George Washington to George H.W. Bush, said his son Joshua.

In addition to son Joshua, Mr. Klein is survived by another son, Alexander; daughters Rebecca Clark and Judith Francis; seven grandchildren; and a sister.

A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel, 18th and Spruce Streets.

Burial will be in Haym Salomon. Shiva will be observed through Thursday.

Donations may be made to Mikveh Israel Cemetery Trust, 1601 Walnut St., Suite 1010, Philadelphia 19102.