Supermarket Owner Killed In Bel Air Crash Mourned By Community

BEL AIR, MD — Friends and family will say a final farewell Wednesday afternoon to 65-year-old businessman and philanthropist Andrew Klein. The president of Klein's ShopRite of Maryland — who was killed in a 12-vehicle crash on Monday — will be laid to rest at Baltimore Hebrew Cemetery at 2100 Belair Road in Baltimore.

The Forest Hill man was one of two victims killed in a fiery crash on Ring Factory Road. Around 7 a.m., a tractor-trailer rig carrying cargo for ShopRite grocery stores failed to slow or stop and crashed into multiple cars, according to Maryland State Police. The tractor-trailer came to a stop at Ring Factory Road and caught fire, along with two other vehicles that were pinned under the truck.

The second victim of the crash was 7-year-old Tripp Johnson, of Joppa.

In a post on Twitter, Harford County Executive Barry Glassman expressed his condolences to the victims' families.

"We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Andy Klein. Andy followed his family's legacy of giving back to many community groups in Harford County. We pray for God's healing for his family and for the family of the child who was also lost today," Glassman said.

We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Andy Klein. Andy followed his family’s legacy of giving back to many community groups in Harford County. We pray for God’s healing for his family and for the family of the child who was also lost today.
— Barry Glassman (@HarfordExec) March 11, 2019

"We are shocked and saddened to learn about the tragic accident that took place in Maryland today and claimed two precious lives, including a boy and our own beloved ShopRite family member, Andrew Klein, president of Klein's Family Markets," the company said in a statement to WBALTV11.

Klein was the president and CEO of Klein's Family Markets. The family-owned business operated nine ShopRite stores in Maryland, according to the supermarket chain. Klein's ShopRite of Maryland has more than 900 full- and part-time employees.

In addition to managing multiple ShopRite stores, Klein was responsible for getting a hospital in Bel Air, Temple Adas Shalom being renovated, the Senator Bob Hooper Hospice House being built , and the new Upper Chesapeake Behavioral Health Center, The Baltimore Sun reported.

"They've just been big supporters of the county over the years. It started with (his parents) Shirley and Ralph (Klein) and he has carried on that tradition. People will find the generosity of not only Andy and his wife, but his entire family. There was obvious philanthropy, but so much more under the radar screen that will be evident," Lyle Sheldon, president and CEO of Upper Chesapeake Health, told The Sun.

In 2018, Klein was a Good Scout Award recipient and raised more than $80,000 for Boy Scouts in Harford County, according to the outlet.

"It's not about me, it's about the Scouting program," Klein said last year, per The Sun. "I firmly believe in what Scouting does for young men, and soon to be young women."

People who knew Klein said that his philanthropic efforts were felt all over Harford County.

"I think every nonprofit and agency has worked with Andy in some capacity," Mary Hastler, CEO of the Harford County Public Library told WMAR-TV.

"Andy was all about being a team effort, whether it was the hospital or any other organization he was involved in," Cox said.

Funeral services for Klein will start at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in Levinson Chapel at 8900 Reisterstown Road in Baltimore. He will then be laid to rest at Baltimore Hebrew Cemetery.