Burleigh Arnold

1931 - 2023

Burleigh Arnold
May 12, 1931 - March 20, 2023
Los Angeles, California - Respected attorney, civic and political leader, J. Burleigh Arnold, passed away peacefully from natural causes in his San Francisco home on March 20, 2023. He was 91 years old.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Rebecca Sommers Arnold, his daughters Ashley Theresa Arnold (Jeffrey Ponchick) and Sharis Arnold Pozen (Thorn Pozen), his sons Charles Andrew Arnold (Janie) and Victor John Arnold (DeeDee), his seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Born May 12, 1931, the son of Egbert Francis Arnold and Geneva Madge Arnold (Harris) in Lewistown, Missouri, brother of William Egbert Arnold and Joanne F. Haines, Mr. Arnold received his B.S. from Northeast Missouri State University and his J.D. from University of Missouri Law School. He married Mary Caroline Brookhart in 1952 and was widowed in 1969.
Following law school graduation, Mr. Arnold was drafted into the Army and served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He then returned to Missouri in 1957, served as a magistrate judge until joining then-Missouri Attorney General John Dalton's staff as an Assistant Attorney General, and next as then-Missouri Governor Dalton's Chief of Staff from 1960 to 1962.
Mr. Arnold left public service and joined Central Bank, where he worked for the next 25 years, serving as Trust Officer and later as Senior Vice President. During that time, he was active in Missouri and national Democratic politics, serving as a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1978 to 1988. He served on the boards of a variety of educational institutions and charitable organizations and was devoted to many civic organizations in Missouri.
In 1987, Mr. Arnold was appointed as Special Deputy Receiver to oversee one of the largest insurance receiverships in history, Transit Casualty Insurance Company, located in Los Angeles, CA. He moved from Missouri to Los Angeles, CA in 1990. Mr. Arnold successfully recovered a vast portion of policyholders' funds while Special Deputy Receiver. He retired in 2005, enjoying time with his family and friends, skiing, playing golf and traveling extensively.
He is remembered for his love of his family and friends, politics, literature, world travel, art, and music, as well as his intellect, integrity, generous spirit, and good humor. Celebrations of his life will be held this Spring and Summer in California and Missouri.