> Does it rhyme with yeast or de-iced?

This sort of stuff happens when English-speakers try and pronounce
German words (DeKleist's original last name being "Von Kleist").

The mnemonic device for English pronunciation goes:  "When two vowels
go out walking, the first one does the talking."  English-speakers
naturally would pronounce it to rhyme with "yeast."

Since he was German-born, I suspect he pronounced it to rhyme with
"de-iced," since the rule works the opposite way for German.  That's
the way I've always pronounced it, but I never correct anybody for
pronouncing it the other way.  Conversely, nobody's ever corrected me.

I guess the definitive answer would be if an old-timer from the North
Tonawanda area could set us straight.

Dave Vincent