‘Something in him couldn’t go on’

Amber Willard

GLENDALE -- Joseph Klocki was trying to get his life back in order by

asking for help from county agencies in providing housing and drug abuse

programs, his family said.

Klocki had been to the county Department of Public Social Services’

Glendale office, trying to get a hotel voucher when he was denied earlier

this month, his former wife said. Described by Christine Whitfield as

frustrated with a system he had paid into for more than 30 years as a

union carpenter, Klocki went to the top of the agency’s parking structure

and jumped to his death.

“Something in him couldn’t go on,” former wife Whitfield said of the

man she met while both of them were still in high school, working at a

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Burbank.

County officials said they could not discuss why Klocki was denied the

help he sought on March 9.

“We are saddened by the tragic death of Mr. Joseph Klocki. However,

any information pertaining to his welfare case is considered confidential

by state law and therefore, we can’t discuss it,” said Brian Lew,

spokesman for the public social services office.

Whitfield said she and other family members have gotten few answers,

although officials said Klocki was in the county office for several hours

the day he died.

Although he was considered a transient at the time of his death,

Klocki and Whitfield -- who married when they were 23 -- owned a home in

Burbank and later in North Hollywood. The couple divorced amicably in

1996.

In addition to being a local homeowner, Klocki had played baseball on

leagues through the Burbank and Glendale park and recreation departments.

Klocki, for whom carpentry was a family tradition, worked mainly in

high-rise construction on buildings such as the Getty Center and Getty

Museum. From 1982 to 1996, he earned more than $30,000 each year.

After suffering back injuries as a result of his job, Klocki became

addicted to prescription drugs and went through rehabilitation programs

in 1991 and 1999. In 1999, Klocki lived and worked in a Burbank shelter.

His sister died in October and Whitfield said she believes Klocki fell

back into a pattern of drug abuse.

Klocki entered a rehabilitation program in Acton in January but left

there the Monday before his death, Whitfield said.

“We didn’t know where he was. He didn’t have anywhere to stay and

maybe that’s why he was so desperate,” Whitfield said.

The 51-year-old man saw his brother in late December, when his brother

offered to help Klocki find an apartment, Whitfield said.

“He never asked anybody for anything,” said Whitfield, explaining

pride may have held back Klocki.

“He was so kind and generous. People keep calling about that ... if

only he knew,” Whitfield said.