Arthur Charles Dreshfield Jr.

1929 - 2023

Arthur Charles Dreshfield Jr.
November 9, 1929 - January 24, 2023
On January 24, 2023, Arthur Charles Dreshfield Jr., loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 93. Art once said that the pursuit of happiness is both a realistic and meaningful opportunity for all. He believed that pursuit had three main tenets: that you have something worthwhile to do, someone or something to love, and something to look forward to. He lived his life by these ideals until the very end, inspiring many of his family, friends, and loved ones along the way.
Art was born in November of 1929 in Kalamazoo, MI, in what would be the start of a journey of travel, music, science, and laughter that would take him across the country and around the world. The oldest of two sons, Art grew up in Brookline, MA, where he was a volunteer plane-spotter during World War II and a bean collector for a summer in Maine to substitute for men in service. After the war, he helped his mother with the Boston chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, which helped Jewish Holocaust survivors settle into their new lives in Boston. For many nights, Art slept on the couch or the floor, his bed having been given to a Jewish immigrant for their first night in America.
Art showed an early aptitude for science in high school, graduating from the University of Illinois with a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, WI. He went on to begin a long and fulfilling career in research and development in the paper industry, which would eventually take him to Walnut Creek, CA in 1957 to work for Fiberboard. He would then go on to work for Potlatch until his retirement at the age of 65, and would live in Walnut Creek for the majority of the rest of his life - save for a multi-year stint cheerfully weathering winters in Duluth, MN at the end of his career.
The greatest love of Art's life was his wife of 63 years, Ardeth Dreshfield, and his greatest joy was their three sons. Set up on a blind date by a mutual friend, Art and Ardy dated long-distance between Boston and Philadelphia before getting engaged and marrying in less than a year. Together, they enjoyed tennis, square dancing, bridge, attending concerts at the San Francisco Symphony and other theatrical performances, traveling the world, and, above all, spending time with their family, whom Art loved deeply.
Art was known among friends and loved ones for his wide-reaching and varied interests. A lifelong bridge player, he played multiple times per week until the last few months of his life. He often rued that his scientific background was of little to no help in both bridge and his other favorite hobby, golf - finding that his knowledge of chemistry and paper did little to keep his balls out of sand traps and water hazards. Art spent much of his time volunteering for a variety of organizations, most notably serving as a guide and volunteer docent on Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential yacht, the USS Potomac, for over 15 years. The hours he spent sailing the San Francisco Bay, educating locals and tourists alike on the history of both the yacht and the region, were some of his happiest.
Art is preceded in death by his wife, Ardy; his father, Arthur Sr.; and his mother, Nanette. He is survived by his brother, Bob; his half-brothers, Bill and Phil; his three sons, Ken (Susan), Richard (Sue), and Gerry (Tracey); and three grandchildren, David, Annie, and Jacob, as well as family and friends around the country and world.
Donations in Art's memory may be made to The USS Potomac Association, Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, Hospice of East Bay, or the charity of your choice.