John E. Arnold's Obituary
John E. 'Jack' Arnold, 72, a former bricklayer with the Bricklayers' Local 3 of Buffalo, New York, died on Wednesday, December 23. Mr. Arnold had been recovering from surgery when complications set in. In 2004, Mr. Arnold and his wife of 49 years, Janet (nee West) who survives him, retired to Florida. He was an avid golfer who participated in a myriad of tournaments and matches both in Florida and in New York. Besides golf, he enjoyed playing softball; he was the pitcher for many years on the Monsignor Nash team in the Knights of Columbus league in Buffalo. His tenacity, on and off the diamond, earned him the nickname 'Bulldog'.Mr. Arnold took his passion for golf, and sports in general, and put it to good use as the Team Manager of the Western New York Transplant Olympics team. He not only managed the team but he was an athlete as well, participating in the golfing events. Mr. Arnold, who received a kidney transplant in 1996, also served on the Board of Directors of the Kidney Foundation of Western New York and served as the President of the Kidney Transplant Support Group.Mr. Arnold received two awards for his tireless work on behalf of transplant patients: 'The Gift of Life' award presented by the Upstate New York Transplant Services and the 'Volunteer of the Year' award presented by the Kidney Foundation.Mr. Arnold was also a Third Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. In Buffalo, he was a member of the Monsignor Nash Council and in Florida, the Knights of Columbus Council 5644.Recently, Mr. Arnold had cut down his golf game so that he could watch his favorite football team - the Florida Gators- or attend the many events his six grandchildren participated in. He also enjoyed spending time with his mother, Rita M. Sullivan (nee Moore) who survives him, who recently moved to Florida.In addition to his wife and mother, Mr. Arnold is survived by four sons: John (Johan) of Antwerp, Belgium; Michael (Maria) of Buffalo; Kevin (Laura) of McKinney, Texas; and Scott of Buffalo. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Sarah, Aubrey Anne, Michael, Jack, Chelsea and Drew. He is preceded in death by his two brothers who also received kidney transplants: William 'Bill' and Lawrence 'Bud'. He is survived by two sisters-in-law, Cynthia Arnold and Margie Arnold, a brother-in-law, Jack (Marie) West, and 14 loving nieces and nephews.Should friends desire memorial contributions may be made to:National Kidney Foundation Serving WNY300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 101Buffalo, NY 14202Memo: Transplant Team (imo Jack Arnold)Funeral services will be held 1:00 pm Friday, January 8, 2010 at the First Christian Disciples of Christ Church formally Continental Church of Wildwood, FL Interment will follow at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
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