Herbert A. Arnold

June 23, 1935 – January 7, 2024

Born in Buchau in the Czech Republic on June 23, 1935 to Josef Arnold and Maria (Rothberger) Arnold, Herb moved from his home in Germany, with brief stints as a teenager, in Philadelphia, PA and in Liverpool, England as a young man, to begin teaching at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT in 1963. At Wesleyan, he was a professor in both the College of Letters and the German Department for over 40 years, inspiring many generations of students to learn, to question and to think analytically. His work focused on the intersection between history, philosophy and literature in a pan-European context, and his publications ranged in time and subject matter from late fifteenth-century manuscripts to contemporary popular culture. He continued to teach popular courses at Wesleyan's Wasch Center – including the Song of Roland and Njall's Saga -- long into his retirement. His legacy lives on in the students he nurtured and supported over the course of his career, many of whom continued to communicate with him and to visit him until the end of his life.

Herb followed political and economic developments closely; he deployed his formidable intellect across many areas, including the financial. But his great love was soccer, which he played in Germany as a youth. He was inexorably drawn to the Wesleyan Soccer program, where he was an unofficial Assistant Coach for the team for many years. He followed his favourite German teams as well as his beloved Everton Football Club with a ferocious and forensic interest. An avid fisherman, he explored the rivers and lakes of Connecticut and New England with both friends and family. He was a keen observer of nature and enjoyed sharing that knowledge with his children and grandchildren.

Herb was a loving and supportive husband, father, and grandfather, always ready with advice and assistance. He is survived by his wife, Annemarie Arnold, his three daughters Bettina (Thomas H. Hruby), Corinna (Alice Hogge) and Christiane Vivien (Norbert Pralle) and his two grandsons, Maximilian and Gabriel Arnold-Pralle. He will be deeply missed by all of them.

A long-time resident of Portland, CT, he moved to Cromwell's Covenant Village in 2021 together with his wife Annemarie. There will be a celebration of Herb's life at a memorial celebration at Covenant Village 101 West Street, Cromwell, CT 06416 later this year. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Herbert Arnold can be made to the Connecticut Audubon Society. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.