In Loving Memory of Mika
Mika Klein, Senior Facilities Planner, suddenly passed away on December 22, 2021. Mika has been part of the Facilities Planning and Management family for over eight
years and was responsible for managing facilities planning and programming, environmental
compliance, and document resource efforts across campus.
Mika had a big personality to fit the size of her big heart. Her love for knowledge was abundant and her devotion to the College and its students was extraordinary. She was an excellent teacher and mentor; she believed in the best of everyone and pushed to bring out the best work from all. She was a true champion of equity and sustainability.
Mika is survived by her husband, Greg; father, Henry; mother, Cecilia; sister, Sacha; two nieces; a cat; and tortoises.
The entire College community extends its deepest sympathies to Mika’s family and friends.
We invite you to Donate to the Mika Klein Memorial Fund. On the Mt. SAC Foundation giving page, select "Mika Klein Memorial Fund" from the dropdown list of gift designations.
Memories of Mika
Lisa Rodriguez
Determined, ebullient, effervescent, vivacious, brilliant, energetic, cheeky, visionary: These are but a few words used to describe Stefyn Mikaela “Mika” Klein by family, friends, and co-workers. Born August 23, 1969, Mika left us suddenly at 52 years of age on December 22nd, 2021.
The enormous void left by her passing cannot be understated. Mika was a true champion for students at Mt. SAC with her “boundless energy and exacting skill” to quote her father, Henry. As the Senior Facilities Planner, she poured herself into the Campus Master Plan to the level of elevating that work to an art form. She showed up uniquely and unapologetically herself. To those who knew her gift for humor, a mere “meow, meow,” “dahling,” or “ya know?” enticed a giggle or a laughing fit depending on the situation. Mika could afford to be a little silly given her broad and deep understanding of her field of work. Given that nearly everyone saw her vision for the brilliant contribution it was to Mt. SAC, a laugh was the icing on the cake.
We can still picture Mika riding about on a cart on campus, waving excitedly, chatting personably to so many about what Mt. SAC was becoming. We can hardly imagine a future without her stellar ideas, intricate timelines and designs, and pin-ball like brainstorming style.
Words of Wisdom
Memory shared by Dr. Jeanne Marie Velickovic
Mika’s words of wisdom:
- Be your authentic self - bold and beautiful
- Live life with passion and purpose
- Embrace others warmly and with compassion
- Be an activist for social justice and sustainability in your daily life and work
- Speak honestly and ask probing questions; then take notes
- Get excited about ordinary but extraordinary things: lunch with a friend, a reusable straw, videos of your kitty cat
- Laugh and let the sun through often
- Create a vision for the future and then sit down to do the hard work to make it happen
- Dress with flair and express your thoughts with large gestures. Live in capital letters
- Seek counseling to cope with grief and overcome life’s challenges
I can almost see Mika drive around campus in a golf cart or in her tiny cute car, or stride into a room, stand hands on her hips, flip her hair dramatically, and say: “Okay, c’mon guys, I’m still here. A part of me will always remain with you. In the midst of tears, remember laughter and joy. Remember the gifts I gave and not the loss I left. I love you all “
Memory
From her father, Henry
I have the saddest and most shocking news. Our daughter Mika, died yesterday afternoon of heart failure. She left a gaping hole in our lives impossible to fill. She was the most vivacious, energetic, and funny member of our family, instantly filling a room with her energy and humor. We relied on her to lift our spirits when we were down. She was the best and most loyal of friends, never failing to honor her commitments, be it to friends or to work. To see her lifeless under a shroud in her back yard was incomprehensible.
She was the most vivacious, energetic, and funny member of our family, instantly filling a room with her energy and humor. We relied on her to lift our spirits when we were down. She was the best and most loyal of friends, never failing to honor her commitments, be it to friends or to work. To see her lifeless under a shroud in her back yard was incomprehensible.
She was fifty-two, having been born August 23, 1969. Today would have been her twentieth wedding anniversary. She was a beautiful child, but cried for the first half year of her life. She could get so apoplectic that she became rigid as a board. It seemed as if she was so frustrated trying to find the words to speak. But once she did, she never stopped.
For those who knew my mother Anne, Mika was possessed of the same athleticism and boundless energy. She was almost nine when, with some trepidation, we first put her in the hands of airplane stewardesses to fly back to New Jersey for a visit with my parents. The next day, I called to see how she was doing. Philip, my father, answered the telephone. He said, “It’s wonderful. Your mother and daughter are out there exhausting each other.”
She liked to hang out with her grandfather in his shop, where he built things and welded sculpture. She later told us that she never would have become an architect had she not had that experience. She said that he never told her don’t touch that. Rather he said, “Let me show you how to use that.” So she was not intimidated by power tools. And she was not daunted in the still man’s world of construction. Those of you who knew her well, knew that she had a mouth. She only had to uncork it once for the crew she was working with to know that they had better perform to meet her standards.
She loved her work as an architectural planner for Mt. San Antonio College, and felt more appreciated there than in any other job she had ever had. As with everything she did, she threw herself into it with all of her boundless energy and exacting skill. She loved problem solving. And these last two years of pandemic posed many to solve. I cannot imagine what the College will do without her.
She played as hard as she worked. As she had been as a young soccer player, once she fixed her gaze on the ball, she was formidable in her follow-through. That spirit infused her life. Once she was determined to do something, she was relentless. Her enthusiasm was infectious. She was a good dancer, loved music, and loved art. She buoyed up her sister Sacha when she was going through the worst of times. And she took the greatest of pleasure in being the zany aunt to Sacha’s two daughters, Mikaela (Her namesake) and Lia. Those of you who knew her well, could not but be touched by her enthusiasm for life.
I don’t know where to stop. It is so hard to let go of her.
Memory
Melida Bowen
Mika Klein was a glorious force in this world. She had a gift for knowing what was right ,and getting those who hadn’t caught up with her insights “ yet” to do the right thing. She yielded power, but didn’t have to use it, because people believed “ in HER”. That was my experience working with Mika on many projects as the Coordinator of the Mt. SAC Pride Center. A true advocate for our LGBTQ+ folks @ Mt SAC. Besides that ,she was just a bad ass, with a super hero Red belt that left the students in the PC in awe.
Memory
Tevy Pal Kysoth
When I’d received the news of your sudden passing on 12/22, my entire body went numb, unable to grasp the idea that you are no longer with us. A personality that is larger than life, an intellect beyond measure, a tongue that is sharper than a chef’s knife, oh...and there is no match to that witty mind of yours.
As a colleague, you demanded perfection on all aspects of our work. You not only critique the design, but the graphics, the margin, the font style, the text...and pride yourself in being the grammar and punctuation Nazi. It is physically and mentally exhausting for me whenever we’re assigned to the same project. In retrospect, I owe you a tremendous gratitude for pushing me to excel to the top of my ability and making me the designer I am today.
The New Year causes us to reflect on different aspects of our life. When I think of you my friend...these are the things I will miss about you. I will miss the “Hi Scooby” greeting. I will miss our lunch at Baby Elephant, where we split tom yum ka. I will miss receiving emails from you, sharing design inspirations or some cool furniture you researched. I will miss all the humorous emojis or feminist quotes that you send via emails or texts. I will miss your gazillion color pens and highlighters on all of your notes. I will miss all the Mika sound effects during a discussion (as everyone that knows you, knows what I’m talking about), I will miss the calls when you wanted to share your thoughts on a matter, during your commute home. But most of all, I will miss your belly laughs, your infectious giggles, and your incredible and irreplaceable talent as an Architect and Planner.
All I know is that heaven got a lot more expressive, bright, and loud when you arrived. You will forever be missed in my heart, my dear friend, Mika Klein.
