Richard Arnold

Richard Arnold
The Honorable Richard E. Arnold, age 72, of Orange, the beloved husband of 33 years to Karen Kanawall Arnold , entered into eternal rest peacefully on June 1, 2021, at Yale New Haven Hospital. He was born in Bridgeport on October 11, 1948, loving son of the late Ernest and Ruth Crosthwait Arnold.
Rich was a graduate of Warren Harding High School where he played football, baseball and basketball. He received many academic awards and graduated with the class of 1966. Rich went to the University of Connecticut in Storrs and in 1970 he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree before attending the New England School of Law in Boston where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1974. After Graduation, Rich worked as an assistant clerk in the CT Circuit Court System before opening his own practice in 1975. After many successful years, he had the honor of being appointed a Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court in 1996. He loved being a Judge and proudly served for 25 years. Rich presided over many high-profile cases in both the Bridgeport and Milford Courts. Rich never really retired and up to his last days, he did short calendar, zoomed court cases during the pandemic and wrote decisions.
Rich was twice nominated by the CT Republican Party as their candidate for State Attorney General in 1986 against Joseph Lieberman and in 1994 against Richard Blumenthal. He served as a Selectman in the town of Orange where he lived. Before his nomination to the Superior Court, he was the State Chairman of the Connecticut Republican party and was a member of the Republican Nation Committee. Rich also worked on the presidential Campaign of Senator Robert Dole.
He served on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Diabetes Association, the Greater Bridgeport Council on Alcoholism, the Orange Park and Recreation Commission, and was the town Moderator for Orange. Rich was also a member of the CT. Bar Association, the Orange Republican Town Committee and the Republican State Central Committee.
Rich lived in the moment, enjoying all that life had to offer. He loved his family and his friends, and he had a passion for golf. Rich loved to play with his golf "brothers" at Orange Hills Country Club and he served on the Men's Association as their Secretary. Orange Hills was his home away from home. He golfed every Friday and Saturday, and when invited he played at various other golf courses. Most of all, Rich's greatest love was his family and his wife Karen. He cherished the time he spent with them, especially the many summer trips to Hilton Head Island where they got married. Rich will be sadly missed by all, but will remain forever in our hearts.
Rich's loving family in addition to his wife Karen includes his daughter Lindsey Alexandra Arnold, his son Kenneth Joseph Shelinsky and his wife Stephanie, his three brothers Anthony, Paul and Ernie Arnold and the apple of his eye, his grandson Jackson Shelinsky, better known to him as "Captain Jack".
A Memorial Mass in Celebration of Rich's Life will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 11:00 am DIRECTLY at Holy Infant Church, 450 Racebrook Road, Orange. All other services are private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Rich's memory may be made to either BH Care for Domestic Violence, Project Purple for Pancreatic Cancer or the UCONN Foundation.
To leave online condolences or to light a virtual candle, please visit www.millerwardfuneralhome.com