JEAN AND ROBERT Arnold

As 1 Cor. 13 states, "there abide faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love…love never fails." These words recall the lives of Jean Hackett Arnold and her husband of 78 years, Robert Henry "Bob" Arnold, who passed away in Cleveland only 5 days apart. In life, Jean and Bob demonstrated faith hope, and love not only in themselves and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but also in the people and world around them – a world they worked to make a better place for a through selfless decades of community leadership and volunteer service. In death, Bob and Jean left behind inspiration for all who knew them, and a call to all to make a positive difference for others through one's energy and resources, always with integrity and striving for excellence. A lifelong Clevelander, Jean Hackett Arnold was 98 when she entered Eternity on May 5, 2020. Bob had just turned 100 when he followed her on May 10, 2020 – Mother's Day. Their passing marked the end of two lives lived vibrantly, energetically, and purposefully. A proud legacy alum of Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Jean attended Bradford Junior College in Bradford, MA, graduating at the top of her class before entering Smith College. A native of the Bay State, Bob was a gifted athlete and class valedictorian in high school, going on to Amherst College with a full scholarship, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in French and Italian. In 1940, one of Bob's fraternity brothers, freshman George Hackett, introduced Bob, a senior, to his sister, Jean. The two were quickly smitten and wed in January 1942. World War II saw Bob serving in the Army, initially Infantry, then deployed in mid-1943 to North Africa and then Italy, rising to the rank of Major in General Eisenhower's Intelligence Unit. He quickly joined the local National Guard as a Lt. Col. upon his return from the War and served for more than a decade. When Bob returned to the US in mid-1945, he turned down a position with GE in NY to join his father-in law's real estate business in Cleveland Heights. Bob's keen mind, hard work, and business acumen, along with a fierce dedication to high ethical standards, brought him success. Eventually, he became a partner in the firm of Hackett & Arnold and helped to expand the firm's outreach into all of Cleveland's eastern suburbs. Always active in civic affairs, Bob served as President of the Cleveland Area Realtors and the Ohio Association and worked for years on the National Real Estate Board. He further showed his concern for civic matters by serving as Mayor of the City of Cleveland Heights. In retirement, he became a certified gemologist and also a paralegal. Bob repeatedly demonstrated he had an entrepreneurial spirit fueled by a strong sense of personal accountability and fair play. Jean recently wrote that he "has always excelled in every endeavor he undertook and still has the most captivating, beautiful smile." Jean, always at Bob's side, was also actively involved with the community and was particularly devoted to volunteering with the Cache at The Church of the Covenant. She was a lifelong member of The Junior League of Cleveland and an active volunteer with the Diabetes Association. She was a strong participant in PTAs at the Roxboro Schools in Cleveland Heights. She was involved with both Laurel School (where her daughter also attended) and University School (Jeffery's alma mater). Bob and Jean recognized the importance of education and nurtured not only their own children's development, but also enjoyed mentoring and tutoring other family and neighborhood youth. Bob and Jean savored life in all its flavor. They enjoyed family travels and eventually took a trip around the world with George Hackett and his wife, Phyllis. In retirement Bob achieved certifications as a gemologist and a paralegal. He loved classical and mood music. Both supported local community theater as well. Adventurous, fearless, and a passionate fan of all of the Cleveland professional sports teams, Jean greatly enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. Her competitiveness at Boggle, card games, and Scrabble is legend! She will be fondly remembered for wearing colorful clothes that complimented her sparkling blue eyes and her always well-groomed blonde (eventually white) hair. Above all, the Arnolds found great joy in family and all they knew and loved. Predeceased by their son, Jeffery (widow Susan Eastridge), and George and Phyllis Hackett, Bob and Jean are survived by their daughter, Judith; Jeffery's former wife Betsy Wheeler; two grandchildren: Christine Arnold Fruehwirth (John) and Stephen Arnold (Farrah); five great-grandchildren: Ryan, Anna, and Logan Fruehwirth; and Liam and Sasha Arnold; and many extended family and friends. A private memorial service for Jean and Bob will be held in the future. Both Arnolds have been cremated and placed in The Church of the Covenant's Columbarium. Memorial gifts may be sent to The Church of the Covenant (Covenant Cache Fund), 11205 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106; or the United Way of Greater Cleveland, 1331 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44115; or the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44110. For additional information, complete obituary of each, and guestbook, please log online to: www.Brown-Forward.com