Richard Dickson Arendt ’63


Richard Dickson Arendt ’63 died June 11, 2011, on the way to a hospital in Napa, California, after collapsing from a heart attack in the gift shop of the Sonoma Barracks, where he was working as a park volunteer. Rick was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Cranford and Smoke Rise, New Jersey. He lived in Sonoma, California. Rick studied at Dartmouth on a full Navy scholarship and was a member of the Dartmouth Outing Club. After graduation he attended the Navy Supply School in Athens, Georgia, where he met his wife-to-be, Janis Packard. After the service Rick earned an M.B.A. at Tuck School. He worked many years as an executive with Bank of America on the East and West coasts and four foreign countries. He served as a presidential exchange executive with the U.S. State Department. After retirement in 2003, Rick volunteered as a docent for Bouverie Preserve and Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks, which he served as president. He was fluent in Spanish and lectured on Mexican history for Elderhostel in Mexico. He was famous for dressing as a vaquero (Mexican cowboy) for special local events such as sheepshearing and children’s days. In addition to his wife, Janis, Rick is survived by son Christopher, daughter Jennifer, brother Randall and two grandchildren. Donations may be made to the Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks Association.