In loving memory ~
My beloved husband Arnold, Arnie to most, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at The Views in Comox.
He was predeceased by his parents Harry and Eva Auerbach, sister Sybil (Sunny) and her husband Dave Grumet, all of Montreal. He is mourned by his wife of 40 years Lin of Courtenay, her son Rob and his partner Pat of Ottawa, niece Vicky, her husband Ian Goodridge and the family of Ajax. He is also mourned by several cousins in Montreal, Toronto, and Vankleek Hill, Ontario, and life-long friends Alvin and Maureen Hankin of Montreal, Kreso Perovic of Gatineau, and Elizabeth Steeves of Moncton.
Born in the Jewish faith in Montreal Arnie was nicknamed "the brain" by his classmates at Byron Bing High School. He graduated as an Electrical Engineer from McGill University in 1962 and was hired immediately by Transport Canada, Ottawa. In 1975 while in the Telecom and Electronics Branch, Arnie interviewed and hired a new Administrative Officer Lin. Four years later he began courting her and they were married in 1983, honeymooning at DisneyWorld. They both shared a love of travel, venturing off to Israel, Newfoundland, New England, and Venezuela, and in 1989 took Lin's mother on a month-long road trip through 8 countries in Europe for her 65th birthday. While visiting Lin's family in Comox, BC one warm February in 1990 Arnie remarked, "Maybe we should think about retiring out here too." A few months later they were back buying property and in 1996 packed up and headed west from Ottawa taking the scenic route through Washington DC, Nashville, New Orleans, El Paso, Salt Lake City, Vancouver, and finally across on the ferry to the Comox Valley. Arnie eased into retirement quickly enjoying golfing and bowling and lost no time in signing up as a volunteer at the local St. Joe's Hospital. In June 2012 Arnie won the Sister Pat Macaulay Service Award as Volunteer of the Year. Arnie and Lin continued their love of road trips exploring the southwest US, and one-year driving round-trip to Ottawa and back. More trips included Bali, Hawaii, a bus tour of the British Isles, an Alaskan cruise, and another cruise that took them from Rome to Venice, Corfu, Malta, then trains from Rome to Salzburg, Paris and through the Chunnel to London.
In 2019 Arnie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and in October 2022 entered The Views where staff continually remarked what a kind, polite and gentle person he was with a great sense of humour. Arnie was lovingly cared for by Rene O'Keefe and Mike Eaton and the Mountainview 3 staff until his sudden passing due to heart failure.
~ Gone now but forever in my heart ~
In lieu of flowers donations to the Alzheimer's Society would be appreciated.
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