June 24, 1933 to May 23, 2020
Jim passed away very peacefully on Saturday May 23, 2020.
Jim suffered with COPD for a very long time, having spent 40+ years smoking.
Please quit smoking if you do so currently, he became very adamant with people he would talk with to quit smoking.
He felt that was the single most stupid thing he had done in life.
So many freinds, colleages, former students have shared so many wonderful stories of their memories of Dad,
it has really been heart-warming to see how many people he touched through his life.
"Coach Arnold was one of a kind. He was an inspiration to all of us. Even though many of us are old men, we still remember his advice and wise instruction. All of us who ran for Coach Arnold owe him a debt of gratitude. He made us better people." - Bob Luedke GW 1974
"So everyone can hear the whispers of the trees like Jim did on his runs, we have had two trees planted in his memory." - Nick, Miranda, Jason and Danielle
"So very sorry for your loss, he will be forever missed. There is not enough space here for all the memories we shared as teams for Arnie, but I will try for a few. Cannot forget being followed all over town by Arnie in the red convertible Olds and all of us looking ahead for it at mile splits...then Arnie leaning against the car shouting words of encouragement or sometimes what's up Webster or Jaderholm or Rutherford..not enough sleep..chicks keeping you up late? Talks on the bus after CC or Track meets were classics...right up there with Rockne, Lombardi or Halas, but with his own special twist. For example, if you were not completely paying close attention, Arnie would stop talking, look the prime offender right in the eye and say, squirrel....I'm taking to you! At which point you wanted to laugh, but knew better. Then there was the Arnie whistle that you could hear from 1/2 a mile away on the cross country course that somehow managed to get you to pick it up and pass the next three runners and hopefully the three were York Dukes. If you missed the whistle, the voice was unmistakeable, like a dog hearing a dog whistle, we could pick his voice out of hundreds at the track. I heard that voice again running a Freedom 4 years back, running past Arnie's house... Webster!, looking good there and I swear I passed three Yorkies right then. He did not treat us like the skinny, oddball kids we were, but like the men he knew we could be and I personally thank him for that. Teacher, coach, mentor, friend...we would have run through brick walls for him if asked." - Bryan Webster GW 1978 Cross Country and Track
"There are few men and women who can live their dreams and passions. Your Dad was one of them! I had the privilege of running track and cross country for your Dad from 1964-68, which meant mostly running behind Ken Popejoy. I certainly learned more about life in those afternoons with your father on the track than I ever did in the classroom. I still remember his comment, "Miss a day of practice and you are two days behind". - Al Jones
"Great memories of your Mom and Dad growing up around the corner from you off Roger Rd. So sorry for your loss. Great guy, great teacher, great coach, great neighbor, great example! I will miss him!" - Pat and Kirsten McKay
"To a great coach, as well as a life mentor to many of us student/athletes. Arnie will be missed by all of us who's lives he impacted. I will miss he whistle. We have planted a tree in your memory". - Michael Seifert
"Your Dad was a great coach who really inspired our track team to be the best we could be. He worked us hard in practice but it really paid off in our meets. The 1978 track team had a very good season and being able to compete in the state finals of the mile relay is a highlight I always remember. RIP Coach Arnold". - Craig Gill
"Mr Arnold was a great coach and a good man. I'm a better person for knowing him. RIP". - Mike Cvengros
"I had the honor and pleasure of sitting next to Jim on the second Monday night of the month for the past several years as we played our saxophones together in the Music Makers Reunion Band. We traded the second alto and second tenor books betweeen the two of us, but always sat next to each other. I will never forget his kindness to me and his encouraging me in my attempt to learn the clarinet and his sense of humor. I will miss him very much, Rest in Peach Jim and please save a seat for me in the saxophone section! Thanks for the memories". - Cathy
"No teacher or coach had a more profound impact in my lifetime than "Coach" Arnold. He taught me so many life lessons through sports over the years. He was a good human, was loved by so many and will be dealy missed in this world of ours. Peace and comfort be with you all". - Stuart Steele
"Jim was also a great musician and shared his talent on Clarinet & Saxophone. We played in two bands together including the Music Makers (17 pc Jazz Big Band) and the Retired Rhythm Rascals from 1986-2020 and was the leader of the band for many of those years. His dedication and efforts in keeping the band together was much appreciated by many senior living retirement homes where they all enjoyed the afternoon concerts." - Bill Mertz
"A memorial tree was planted in your memory Jim, my friend, my mentor, you will be missed". - Sue Pariseau
We have planted a tree in memory of your Dad, our condolences for the loss, you are in our thoughts and prayers." - Bill, Mary, Emily, Kevin, Brian and Caroline Hayden
"Coach Arnold taught me in driver's education in 1980. I was pleased to have had him sitting next to me, offering tips and I definitely appreciated his patience. Later in the mid 1980's I saw Mr Arnold working U.S. Customs at O'Hare and he recognized me after a return from Germany while I was standing in line. He waved me through! I've been teaching for the past 29 years and I'm pleased I had such a good instructor at Glenbard West!" - Mark Russell
"In the early 70s I spent my four years at GBW as an assist for the track team and had the honor to know Jim. He was always a kind man who shepherded others to be their best. God Bless". - Gail Forrest
"He was my history teacher, saved my butt a couple of times. A favorite line to me was "Alfonz", we just can't do that in here with that smile he had when ya did good! He was truly one of the teachers who helped me be a better student/person. RIP Mr Arnold". - Al Carlo
"He was famous for calling out runners by name from the other side of the track during practice. "NAME", will you run? Get those knees up!". - Pete Wiltjer
"I wasn't the best on the golf team, but Coach Arnold instilled confidence in me. I always enjoyed his sense of humor especially in drivers ed. Absolute legend of GW". - Rob Hutzler
"I am sorry I'm a few weeks late in sharing my sincere condolences at the passing of a true legend of the game. Arnie was one of those coaches, mentors, men who come along in a young guy's life who mold them, shape them, and have an impact far beyond the short time they are together. I still use several of Coach's more famous rants and stories with my own students today. "Milk is baby food!" was one of the all time classics. One of the most powerful memories of my HS life at GW was having Arnie tell me that I had been elected co-captain of the XC team; he wasn't too happy about it because I was not in Top 7 or even the Top 14; there were the Studs and there were the Luds (named after the immortal Hilltopper Harrier Ludke) and I was firmly in the latter group. But he gave me a great pep talk and told me I would make a great captain. He gave me a book called "Cross Country Running" and in a spot that described a great Michigan State team that had run in Van Cortland Park, NY he wrote "That was me, JFA" I worked my ass off for him that summer and next fall; and I had my best year ever. I still stunk, but he appreciated the effort I made and told me as much. I'll never forget watching Arnie shoot pool in the basement of the dormitory where we stayed for the State Track Meet; he was like Paul Newman in The Hustler! (I also have a vivid memory, Marc, of you barreling down the highway in your red Olds Cutlass, with me and some other n'er-do-wells aboard, on our way to watch the State Meet!) Waiting every day in the locker room for Coach to come in and announce the workout was the high and low point of every day of HS; "Linden Street Hills" or "8 mile burn" was the low; "Harem Scarem!" was the high. I bet that when it's my own time to leave this world, I'll show up at the Pearly Gates (jury's still out on that one) with all the other new arrivals, or first day in Heaven, and Arnie, not St. Pete, will show up and tell us that practice on our first day will be 24 quarters. May he rest in peace and may you and your family take solace from all of us whose lives he touched and enriched." - Jim Tucci
"He was an influential teacher and coach for our GBW family and community, we were all blessed." - Rob Parmelee
"I will remember him fondly as a coach, teacher and great personality. Peace be with your family." - Bruce Lantz
His CC teams were known as Arnie's Army. He invested his God-given talents and was a great teacher, coach, husband and father, he was a difference-maker. He made US History interesting. I majored in history at Wheaton because of the learing experiences I had in HS. Praying for the Arnold Family and joining the members of Arnie's Army in honoring and celebrating your dad's life. God Bless. - Mowgli Gilbert
While many of my HS memories elude me, I recall that your dad was the best drivers ed teacher ever! All my siblings had him. He was so funny. May he rest in peace and your fond memories of him be abundant. - Chris Mitchell
Coach Arnie, I remember the meet sheets you meticulously put together and gave out after the track meets, I still have them from the early 90's today. I remember you pulling the team together and the stores you had to tell, so many times not knowing if you were trying to be funny or serious or some place in between. I have a photo of me in track and I can see you in the background, watching from afar to see how I was doing. Funny thing I didn't realize until years later you were watching. You are right up there with the best of coaches! I'm talking right up there with Joe Newton of York! RIP Coach Arnie. - Ryan Kempf
Twenty more hills and your done!! - Gregory Pizzamiglio
I can still hear his whistle! - Gary Graham