Arnold Lewis Abbott

Eulogy for Arnold L. Abbott 29 September, 1931 - 26 June, 1999

Written by his son, Stephen Arnold Abbott of Manchester, given by Rev. Bill Donohue of Brookside Congregational Church, Manchester, NH, June 30, 1999 at the Goodwin Funeral Home in Manchester, NH

Ladies and Gentlemen, Family and Friends of Arnold: It is difficult, if not impossible, to adequately sum up a man's life in a few brief sentences. Yet, it is appropriate and fitting for us to attempt to do so at such a time as this, for it is a time of sorrow and grief, but also a time to reflect upon and celebrate a life.

The life of Arnold Lewis Abbott was one of joy, sorrow, suffering and struggle. But mostly, it was a life of facing challenges and overcoming them through hard work. That is what drove Arnold most of all.

His first love was a love of automobiles, engines and all things mechanical, and he developed that love at an early age. One story he liked to tell his family is how he and his friends used to push his father's car up steep hills, and watch it roll down the other side. He also liked to tell the story of how he and his classmates once lifted a teacher's old Ford onto the roof of the schoolhouse as a prank! (His family says they aren't sure if these stories - and others like them - are true, or whether they are embellished somewhat, but they have been entertained by them for years!)

As a teenager, he had to face his first challenge in life when he was struck with a bone disease that kept him in the hospital for almost a year, during which time he endured several operations that were successful in stopping its spread. Unfortunately, because of his time in the hospital, he did not graduate from high school. Yet, this was just a temporary setback, and also a challenge.

In his early twenties, he moved to Peabody, Massachusetts, where he lived with his uncle and worked in a local garage as a mechanic. It was there that he met his future wife Louise on a double date. The only problem was that she was on the date with THE OTHER GUY! Mid-way through, everyone agreed that they had brought the wrong dates, and they switched - and Arnold and Louise were together. Forty-four years ago, they married in Danvers, Massachusetts, Louise's hometown.

A few years later, Arnold was working in a truck garage in Peabody, Massachusetts, when the building exploded and was quickly engulfed in fire. It was a terrible blaze, and the building was badly damaged, but luckily, he escaped with only his tools badly damaged, but this near-miss would bother him for the rest of his life.

In 1963, Arnold became a member of the International Order of the Odd Fellows, and served in the office of Noble Grand. He was always proud of his membership in the Odd Fellows, and it was an important part of his life, even though in later years was unable to attend meetings.

In the late sixties, he and Louise brought Stephen into their lives, and Arnold went back to school to receive his High School diploma, which he earned at night school in 1970. A few years later, he and his family moved to Florida for the opportunity to be the lead mechanic of an entire fleet of trucks. It was difficult moving away from family and friends, but he and his family tried to remain part of the lives of far-off loved ones as much as possible throughout the years.

Since his youth, Arnold had continued to study in order to realize his life-long dream of becoming an instructor of diesel mechanics. Twenty years ago, that dream was realized when he earned enough college credits to earn a teaching certificate, and he soon went to work as an instructor at a Vocational school in Central Florida. His classroom materials - which he wrote himself- soon became the standard for all Vocational schools in the region, and are still being used in the classroom. Later in his career as a teacher, he would help design the West Central Florida Diesel Apprenticeship program, and was its first Coordinator. The program allowed diesel instructors to work with those in the trucking industry to train new mechanics, ease their transition into the workplace, and provide for their continuing education. Arnold was very proud of his accomplishments with this program, and it was the crowning achievement of his teaching career.

He was well-liked by his students, even though he took a no-nonsense approach to his work. He expected students to be serious about schooling and to excel, and did everything he could to make that happen. Over the years, he helped hundreds of students find jobs as mechanics, and carefully followed their careers through the years as they sought greater challenges. He routinely placed almost all of his students in jobs - a remarkable placement rate of which he was very proud. After almost twenty years of teaching, he retired, firm in the knowledge that he had done his job well and was respected by his collegues and former students. One of the students in the very first class he ever taught succeeded him as the new diesel instructor, further testimony to his ability to reach students and make a difference in their lives.

Arnold will be remembered for helping everyone. Once he drove from southern Florida to South Carolina in the early hours of the morning to fix a stranded truck. He brought along his family, because he didn't want to leave them alone, wondering if he was alright. In the same way, he always offered to help others when they were stranded because of an engine problem. Whether it was family, his co-workers, and often strangers, he wanted to put his skills to good use by helping others.

After his retirement, he returned to an earlier love, woodworking, and made several tables, small chairs, doll cradles, and even an intricate doll house, of which he was very proud. Arnold was anxious to return to New England, and was very happy in his last two years to have been among friends and family once again. His final struggles were met with courage and determination, fighting to the end to hold onto life, even though his medical problems had begun to weigh heavily upon him.

He will be remembered by his family and by those who worked with him as a decent and honest man who was committed to his work. He was always willing to teach others, and was patient in his teaching. He was completely dedicated to his family, always providing for them and always remaining by their side in their times of need. He always sacrificed for his family, both in small and great ways. He always took the burnt toast, always took the smaller portion, always took the bad seat because, he claimed, "he liked it that way". He was there for every important event in his son's life, from parades to graduations, and was supportive of his wife and son's interests, even when he didn't share in them.

He never gave up on anything or anyone, and he had a quiet, yet strong faith that sustained him, especially in his later days. These are the qualities for which he would probably most like to be remembered. His family, friends, and collegues will miss him dearly.

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Arnold held onto life bravely, and a fitting tribute to his character and courage is the poem, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas, selected by his son:

"Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, Rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see the blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze light like meteors and be gay, Rage, Rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, Rage against the dying of the light.

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Genealogical and Personal Information: Arnold lived in Manchester, NH with his only son, Stephen Arnold Abbott (b. 17 October 1966, Boston, Mass.) and his wife Louise Alaine (Wilder) Abbott of Danvers, Massachusetts (b. 6 February, 1936 Portland, Maine) Arnold and Louise were married on 10 April, 1955 at Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers, Massachusetts. It was Easter Sunday.

Arnold died at 5:48 p.m. on Saturday, 26 June, 1999 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. He died of kidney failure and respiratory failure, brought on by diabetes, from which he suffered for several years.

His father was Harry Arthur Abbott (5 February, 1907-12 September, 1970) and his mother was Lois Agnes Copp (1911-1997) both of Conway, NH. His siblings were Harry Arthur, Jr. of Raymond (1929-1972); Frances Lavinia Turgeon of Princeton, Maine (b.1930); Arlene Pecola of Conway, NH (b. 14 Aug. 1933); Malcolm Abbott of Conway, NH (b. 2 Oct. 1934) and George Stanley Abbott of Conway, NH (b. 22 Oct. 1945).

Arnold's middle name was taken from his uncle Lewis Copp (1924-1987), for whom he worked in Peabody, Massachusetts. He worked for Lalime's Garage and the Summit Street truck terminal in Peabody; for Ralph Mahony's Garage, Milford Ford, Genest Ford, Diamond Reo, and Fullwell Auto Parts in New Hampshire; for J.J. Brady & Sons Horse Transportation (1975-1978) in Opa-Loca Florida; and Cummins Engine in Orlando, Florida. He doubtless worked at many other locations not listed here, especially in his youth.

He taught Diesel Truck and Bus Mechanics at Mid-Florida Technical Center in Orlando, FL (1979-81) and Ridge Vocational-Technical Center (Later Ridge Technical Center) in Haines City, Florida (1981-1996).

Easter lillies were always special to both Arnold and Louise, because they were married on Easter Sunday, and on the day of Arnold's funeral, an easter lilly bloomed in the side yard of their home in Manchester.