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Richard Dickson Arendt

Richard Dickson Arendt died suddenly on June 11, 2011, of a heart attack while doing what he loved - volunteering at the historic Barracks on the Sonoma Plaza.

Richard was born Nov. 3, 1941, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and was raised in Cranford and Smoke Rise, N.J.

After graduating from Dartmouth on a full Navy scholarship, Arendt attended the Navy Supply School in Athens, Ga., where he met and fell in love with Janis Packard. The couple married several years later in Fort Myer, Va. Upon completion of his military service, Arendt earned an MBA from Amos Tuck School at Darthmouth College. A three-decade career in baking followed, including several assignments in Latin America and the Phillippines.

Arendt, who retired in 2003, spent the next eight years giving back to the community. He was a docent for both Bouverie Preserve and Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks, gave lectures on Mexican history for Elder Hostel in Mexico, and donated countless hours to Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks Association of which he was president at the time of his death.

Rick and Jan loved spending time together. Their favorite trips always involved their shared love of nature. Point Lobos State Park, in Carmel, was at the top of their list for enjoying the outdoors.

Survivors include his wife, Jan; son, Christopher; and daughter, Jennifer (McPherson), all of Sonoma; a brother, Randall Arendt, of Rhode Island; and two adoring grandchildren.

Arendt was an amazing man whose kindness, enthusiasm and generosity of spirit, will be greatly missed, not only by his family, but by the community at large.

A private ceremony will be held for the immediate family at a date to be determined. His passion up to the time of his death was "How to Save the State Parks." In recognition of his devotion to the cause, the Sonoma Petaluma State Historic Parks will be paying him tribute at a later date.

Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to the Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks Association, P.O. Box 1702, Sonoma, CA 95476.