After a lifetime of making jokes about his initials – “a.a. Bobelis” is the way his funeral listing in Lithuanian would denote that he’s “at eternal rest”…at last, to the sorrow of his friends and family, he really is. Antanas Arnoldas Bobelis. Or Arnoldas Antanas Bobelis.
Something got switched in some paperwork somewhere along the trip and all the Lithuanians called him “Arnas” so draw your own conclusions. Or call him “Tony”. Or “Brolis Bobelis”.
Or “Pop”. Or his hands-down favorite: “Senelis” – the name his grandchildren used. He passed away April 23, 2018 just shy of age 87 with family nearby and the love of his life by his side.
He met Danute Aleksandraviciute at a function at a Displaced Persons camp in Germany when both were teenagers. He was a boy scout, she was in the Catholic youth organization, she thought he was obnoxious but he agreed with her that she was “All That”. Over the next few years he chased her until she caught him.
Over the next 61 years their happy marriage produced Vaidotas (Debbie), Rasa (Ross Brittain) and granddaughter Aleksandra, Darius (Cathleen) and grandsons Antanas and Darius, and Lina (Gregory Carman Jr) and grandson Gregory III and granddaughter Emily. He’s also survived by brother Sigitas. Arnas was born May 3, 1931 in Kaunas, Lithuania.
He spent the disruptive war years breaking Gestapo windows or ratting out approaching Red Army soldiers to waiting partisans before heading West with his family. After some years in the DP camp, his family resettled in Brooklyn, NY. He served his new country in the US Army in the Korean War in the 425 Transportation Traffic Regulating Group, 1952-1954, attaining the rank of Corporal and learning colorful English from troops stationed with him from the state of Georgia.
He took remedial English speech classes to make himself understood to Yankees and studied engineering at Brooklyn College, eventually graduating from The City College of NY. A year at the NYC Transit Authority gave way to a 36-year career at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company, where he was Chief Scientist of RD&D and Principle Engineer, with frequent presentations and publications at conferences of the American Gas Association. When he wasn’t toiling at BUG headquarters in Brooklyn Heights, Arnas was ferrying his brood to and supporting Lithuanian activities and functions in the metro area and beyond, especially the Lithuanian Scouting Association where he served with distinction as a highly honored Scoutmaster in multiple capacities regionally and nationally.
His preferred tie to wear was always his purple Skautas Vytis (Eagle Scout level) neckerchief. He rode a motorcycle well past the age he probably should have but how else to zip over to Pathmark for the exotic ingredients in his latest culinary masterpiece? Or give the college daughter a lift to the train station (along with some early gray hairs?
) Other gifts he shared include but are in no way limited to: A glorious singing voice. “Eclectic” musical tastes. A brilliant mind.
Mind-numbing math explanations. A fearsome temper. A fierce sense of honor.
An exasperating sense of humor. Extravagant joy and boundless devotion to those he chose… and those he raised. He said it best when faced with his bleak diagnosis: “It’s been a lovely ride”.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society at www. cancer.org Donations may be made to: American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City OK 73123 Tel: 1-800-227-2345 Web: www.
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