Arthur E. Klauser

Arthur E. "Bud" Klauser, an international businessman with deep knowledge of Japan, died at Bishop Gadsden retirement community in Charleston, S.C., on February 14, 2011, after a short illness.  He was 87.

After prior service with several U.S. corporations with offices abroad including in Japan, Klauser joined Mitsui & Co., one of Japan's largest trading companies, in 1979 as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mitsui (U.S.A.) and opened their office in Washington, D.C. He was the first American or foreigner to hold such an executive management position in the historic Japanese conglomerate.

Klauser was a native Midwesterner, born in Toledo, Ohio, who moved with his family to Evanston, Ill, where he attended grade and high school.  He enrolled with a scholarship at DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind., in 1941.  He entered Army service in May 1943 after his sophomore year and the Army sent him to the University of Chicago and then to the University of Michigan for Japanese language training.  Following the U.S. occupation of Japan in 1945, Klauser was assigned as an interpreter at the war crimes trials.

After completing his Army tour, Klauser returned to the University of Michigan where he earned an A.B., and M.A., and did further graduate work specializing in Japanese and Chinese history. Then in 1949, Klauser went back to Japan again, this time for the Central Intelligence Agency.  One of his principal assignments was to Sapporo in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.  He returned to the U.S. in 1955 to attend law school at Yale, where he received a J.D. in 1958.

With law degree in hand and extensive foreign experience already in his resume, Klauser then progressed to employment with a series of companies who sent him to posts around the world.  He served successively as an executive with the Richardson Foundation, Royal Crown International, AMF International in Geneva and London, Pfizer in Tokyo and Dow Corning in D.C. and Tokyo, as well as with Mitsui and Co. He moved to the Bishop Gadsden community in 1999.

Klauser was a prolific author and lecturer during his business career and was much sought after for his expertise on Japan.  He did many papers and talks on Japanese business culture, trading companies and U.S.-Japanese business relationships.  He also was an expert collector of Japanese art and artifacts which he subsequently donated to charities.

An outstanding Klauser characteristic was his gregariousness, his friendliness  and interest in people, and a lasting loyalty to institutions and groups with which he had relationships throughout the years.

Though he had not graduated from DePauw University, because of World War II service, he continued as an active supporter of his class of '45 and became a significant donor to the university throughout his lifetime.  He served as a trustee for many years, eventually becoming a Life Trustee.  Housed in a gallery on DePauw's campus is the Arthur E. Klauser Asian and World Community Art Collection.

Similarly, Klauser kept in lifelong touch with Yale Law School friends, and with CIA colleagues who had served with him in Hokkaido. He was proud of being a member of the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C.

A special hobby for Klauser was jazz.  As an Evanston schoolboy he used to go to downtown Chicago to savor the big bands of the 1930's swing era.  He learned to play drums, and at DePauw was drummer for the main jazz band on campus.  He continued to play in pickup groups in later years.

Jazz was a common bond between Klauser and Ruth Anne Geise, a Smith College graduate, class of 1945, where she was a music major and was awarded a Julliard scholarship.  Ruth Anne performed professionally under the name of Bix Brent.  She sang with, among others, the Heathertones, a female jazz quartet popular in swing circles. 

"Bud and Bix" married in New York December 28, 1960.  Bix accompanied her husband during his many postings in the U.S. and around the world.  She died in 1972. The couple had no children.

Religion was an important part of Klauser's life.  In Washington, D.C., he was an active member of St. Alban's Episcopal Church.  In Charleston, he was an active participant at St. James Episcopal Church and the Chapel at Bishop Gadsden.

Arthur Ebbert Klauser's birth date was April 26, 1923.  His parents were Arthur Oscar Klauser and Georgia Grosvener Ebbert Klauser.

Bud leaves many cousins including Colonel Janet Lewis and John Ebbert and several godchildren.

In addition to his many friends all over the world and at Bishop Gadsden, Bud will also be missed by his devoted friend, Louise Ravenel Dougherty and her family.

There will be a memorial service for Bud, Friday, March 4, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at The Chapel at Bishop Gadsden with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to any of the following would be greatly appreciated.  Bishop Gadsden Residence Assistance Fund, One Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412; DePauw University, 300 E. Seminary St., Greencastle, IN. 46135;  Yale Law School, 127 Wall Street, New Haven, CT. 06511.