Saturday, September 17, 2011
In late June 2011 my wife Maryann was at the Jewish Home for rehabilitation from knee replacement surgery, and we went to site outside in the flower garden. While there we met Eric Arndt when he came out to enjoy a cigarette. We spent an hour in conversation with him as he told us about his and his family's life in Berlin and his family's journey to America throught New York City and eventually to Rochester. Eric spoke lovingly of his wife Ellen, his daughters and his granddaughter. In the brief hour we shared with him, his special spirit touched us and we each decided to see him again once Maryann was fully able to be out and about. Our plan was to bring him some homemade chocolate chip coookies and flowers. We were sad today to learn of his passing and that we wouldn't be able to visit with him again. In the weeks since we met Eric, we have both told friends about what a special person we found him to be. We extend our sincere condolences to his family as we know that he is happy again with his wife Ellen, and are grateful to have had the honor of being touched by him.
