Renate M. ARENSTORF

ARENSTORF, Renate M. June 17, 1930-June 7, 2013, died after a two year struggle with breast cancer. She was born in Germany and earned a masters degree in Mathematics at the University of Hamburg in 1955, where she met and later married fellow student Richard Arenstorf. When Richard accepted a position as a civilian scientist at the Army Ballistics Missile Agency in Huntsville, Alabama in 1957, she followed him with a newborn son to the USA. Later Richard worked at NASA in the Lunar Landing Program. In late 1969, he accepted a position as Prof. of Mathematics at Vanderbilt University and Renate's family with three sons moved to Nashville. After having lost their oldest son to an accident and the other two left for graduate schools Renate enrolled at the Nashville State Technical Institute and in due time earned an Associate of Science degree. She then worked for about seven years as a computer programmer and systems analyst on network design, etc. Renate also was a Life Member of the Vanderbilt Woman's Club and participated in many activities offered there. She is preceded in death by her sons, Gerhard C. & Norbert S. Arenstorf; and is survived by her loving husband of over 57 years, Richard F. Arenstorf, and by their lost son, Hartwig P. Arenstorf in California. She is also survived by a brother and several nephews & nieces in Germany. She was buried during a private ceremony at Calvary Cemetery on June 17, 2013. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vanderbilt Woman's Club Scholarship Fund, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240-7727 or to the Nashville Rescue Mission, 639 Lafayette St., Nashville, TN 37203-4226.