In Memory of Charles Robbins Arnold
The following statement reflects the sentiments of Sharon Rose Arnold, widow of Charles Robbins Arnold, and their family:
This scholarship has been endowed by our family to the life and memory of my husband, Charles.
Chuck, as he liked to be called, was born in April of 1934 in Chicago, Illinois to Stanley Edmonds and Agnes Suzanna Arnold. He was the older brother to Victor and Claudia. The family lived in Chicago until WWII at which time they moved to North Carolina. His father was employed by the Federal Government in mosquito and malaria control around the military bases. He enjoyed life there, the country much different than the city.
After the war ended, the family moved to Lombard, Illinois. He graduated from Glenbard High School (1951), received his BA in Chemistry from Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois (1955) and his MA in Chemistry from the University of Illinois (1961). He satisfied his military obligation at the Army Chemical Center in Maryland (56-57).
With formal education behind him, in 1961 he moved west to San Francisco, his adopted forever home, where we met and married in 1964. Shortly after arriving, he found employment, first with Beckman Instruments as an Associate Chemist and a year later as a Research Scientist with Lockheed Missiles and Space Company Palo Alto Research Lab. His focus in later years was electroplating research as it applied to space travel. He was a patentee of the electroluminescent half-tone image cell. He was a member of the Metric Association and The American Chemical Society. He retired after 34 years of interesting and challenging work.
Chuck was a bicycle enthusiast and an advocate of public transportation. He became fascinated with the streetcars of Chicago at an early age. From the streetcars of Chicago to the streetcars of San Francisco, he felt public transportation was the way to travel.
He commuted to work in Palo Alto daily until he retired, be it by carpool, vanpool, bicycle or train. He was a founding member of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. He had a fold up bicycle that went with him on monthly trips via Greyhound to the south and east to visit his father in Florida and relatives, and research his family along the way.
Chuck was a lifelong learner. An avid reader, he preferred a book or listening to classical music to watching television. He had an amazing memory for history and language. And he was an excellent cook-a lover of good food and wine.
He was a dedicated genealogist, taking pride in being a descendant of William and Steven Arnold, some of the first settlers in the 1600’s in Providence, Rhode Island. He volunteered for many years at the LDS Family History Center in San Bruno, willing to help anyone with researching their family history.
And most of all, he was a loving husband of 56 years, father to Susan, Karen, Thomas and Steven, and grandfather of 5, he instilled in them the love of science and nature. Early years were spent hiking on Mount Tam or at the beach or riding bicycles in the country. He took pride in their accomplishments and encouraged them to never stop learning. Or stop riding their bicycles.
Chuck and I are both transplants from the Midwest, so our family here is small. He always looked forward to get togethers for holidays, birthdays, graduations, or just for fun.
Chuck passed from this world in February of 2021. Due to the Pandemic, his final wishes could not be realized. Instead, this scholarship has been endowed with love to his memory and as his contribution to the scientific world.