Necrology

Klaus Erik Theodor Siebert '69

Nov. 3, 1946-Oct. 9, 2020

Fueled by his strong work ethic, the career successes of Klaus Erik Theodor ­Siebert ’69, of ­Pittsford, N.Y., ranged from his service as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps to the companies he founded as an entrepreneur.

Siebert, who served as a Marine for four years, attained the rank of first lieutenant. In the civilian world, he became a certified public accountant who eventually launched his own accounting firm and a water-treatment company.

“Klaus loved his family, his faith, and his country,” his published obituary said. “He pulled no punches, spoke his mind, and fought health challenges head on.” It also described him as “faux gruff” with a gregarious nature, a person who knew how to have a good time, especially on the golf course.

Siebert was born in Germany on Nov. 3, 1946, a son of Harro and Karin Siebert. When he was 5 years old, his family emigrated to Newburgh, N.Y. He was a football standout at Newburgh Free Academy, and a dozen colleges recruited him to play for them. He opted for the College on the Hill, where he lettered in football and track, majored in history, joined Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and took part in Block “H”.

After he graduated from Hamilton, Siebert entered the Marine Corps, serving as an officer for four years, an experience that had a profound influence on his life. He met the woman he would marry while he was stationed at Quantico. He and Dale Broughton wed on June 19, 1971. They would have two sons.

Siebert earned a master’s degree in business administration at Rutgers in 1974, going on to work at Price Waterhouse Co. and elsewhere, then started his own accounting firm in 1986 in the Rochester, N.Y., area. In 1999, he launched a water-treatment business; he held several patents related to that field.

“In the tax season I work at increasing the national deficit through my tax work, and the rest of the year I work at cleaning the environment. The beauty of having a liberal arts education!” he joked in his 40th reunion yearbook.

His lengthy list of Hamilton memories included football, track, cross-country trips, English 101, “[German Professor] Otto Liedke, who accused me of being illiterate in two languages,” and history pro­fessors who were collectively, he said, the top department at the College. “I just wish I had taken them more seriously,” Siebert added.

Siebert, who enjoyed travel and golf, died on Oct. 9, 2020, at age 73. Survivors include his wife and sons, his brother, Hans Siebert ’67, and grandchildren. Other Hamilton relatives include brother-in-law John Naylor ’59 and nephew ­Stephen Naylor ’90.

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