Donald Charles Klika, Jr.

Donald Charles Klika, Jr. was born on February 11, 1958, in New Haven, CT. The first of 4 children to Geraldine Khan and Donald Charles Klika, Sr. Don grew up in Falls Church, VA and attended St. Philip Catholic School and Falls Church High School. Playing baseball was his passion. His Dad coached many of his little league teams. In high school, Don excelled in the sport of baseball, which led him to compete in the 1973 Babe Ruth World Series of Baseball held in Manchester, NH. Don attended George Mason University receiving his undergraduate degree in business administration and later received his MBA in marketing from Virginia Tech.

After graduating from Virginia Tech, Don started his professional career at Bell Atlantic as a product manager. Don worked toward his dream to successfully become the Director of Brand Advertising in July 2000. Throughout his career, Don worked with CEO’s to lead development of a new identity for the newly merged Bell Atlantic/NyNEX entity, which we know today as VERIZON. During his tenure with Verizon, he was granted 2 patents in technology which we use daily, Video on Demand.

On March 17, 1989, Don met Wendy Caskey at Sign of the Whale, a local restaurant which would later become ‘their spot’. That special date was considered their first date anniversary, which would be celebrated for years to come. Shortly after, Don was introduced to Tommy, Wendy’s son. An instant family connection was formed and after a 4-year courtship, Don and Wendy married on November 27, 1993, and officially became a family of 3. Throughout their 28-year marriage Don and Wendy shared countless adventures, vacations all over the world, and stories which would form the alter ego of ‘Donnie after Dark’. When Don was on vacation, he truly embraced relaxation and enjoyed good times with his friends, many times in Ocean City, MD where the “108 Club” gathered for years.

As the years passed, it was time for Don to retire and embark on the life he and Wendy dreamed of. In 2016, Don and Wendy moved to Chaptico, MD to continue their passion of boating. Don spent countless hours on the Wicomico River over the years, and he was the captain of several boats on the river that he called home. Some of his best times were had on the river with family and friends. Unfortunately, the retired life Don dreamed of did not turn out as planned. Throughout the course of the past decade, Don courageously and successfully battled and beat 2 rare forms of cancer and successfully underwent a bone marrow transplant in which his niece, Jessica, was the donor. Don lived the last years of life to the best of his ability, not taking for granted his friends and family. We all miss him dearly but will forever keep him in our hearts. He will forever be remembered as “Tenacious”.

Don is survived by his wife Wendy, son Tommy and daughter-in-law, Tina, grandchildren Ava and James, Mother Gerry, siblings Debbie, Mike, and John.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Donald Klika may be directed to support the Hackerman-Patz Patient and Family Pavilion at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University. Gifts may be mailed with a memo indicating that this gift is in memory of Donald Klika to the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, PO Box 49143, Baltimore, MD 21297-9143, or make a gift online at hopkinscancer.org.