Dana Frances Arnold

1957 - 2025

June 19, 1957 – January 3, 2025
Dana passed after a 15+ year battle against multiple myeloma. She is survived by her beloved daughter, Annie Levin, and her loving sister, Randy Arnold Meaney. Dana was a longtime resident of Alexandria. She was a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and the George Washington University Law School. She was an active member of her synagogue, Beth El Hebrew Congregation. Dana spent her career in the environmental arena, focusing on green purchasing and policy, having worked initially as a consultant (AT Kearney, E. H. Pechan & Associates) and then in the federal government. She worked at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, and the General Services Administration. Dana was an avid reader, birder watcher, gardener, and lover of nature. She especially loved visiting the national parks, and locally she was passionate about Huntley Meadows Park. Dana is remembered by her colleagues as being passionate, no-nonsense, yet compassionate and empowering as a mentor and a "work mom." She achieved many feats to help the federal government in transitioning to healthier, more sustainable products. Personally, Dana was known for her intellect, warmth, sense of humor, curiosity, generosity, and overall loving nature. She became a second mother-figure to many of her daughter's friends. She was passionate as a nurturer, and she highly valued empowering others, especially women. A memorial service will be held at Beth El on January 16, 2025 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, National Park Foundation, or The Nature Conservancy.