SOUTH DARTMOUTH — Dorothy (Sherry) C. Arnold, 87 yrs., died on Monday, July 28, 2008. She was the widow of Otto F. A. Arnold and the daughter of Mary (Turner) Carr and Charles Robert Carr. She was predeceased by her parents and two brothers, Capt. Charles H. Carr, USN and Cmdr. Robert T. Carr, USN.
Mrs. Arnold was born in New Bedford and grew up in Fairhaven. She attended Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City for three years studying nursing. She was married and moved to West Palm Beach where her husband, Captain Otto F. A. Arnold was stationed teaching troops the use of the newly developed RADAR. Following the end of World War II, she and her husband returned to live in Fairhaven where Mr. Arnold designed, built and was the Manager of Radio Station WBSM in New Bedford, MA. Mrs. Arnold organized and led a Girl Scout Mariner Troop in Fairhaven for ten years. During that period, groups of the Mariners crewed aboard the schooners Rigadoon, Tabor Boy and Victory Chimes, and the Brigantine Yankee. Sherry and Otto moved to Concord, MA in 1965 and retired to South Dartmouth in 1985.
Sherry graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University with a B.A. in Psychology and from Boston University with an Ed.M. in Educational Psychology. She was employed by the New England Baptist Hospital for 10 years as an Instructor and Counselor at the School of Nursing. She held positions as Vice-Chairperson and Chairperson of the Faculty Association, Chairperson of the Research Committee, member of the Ad Hoc Committee for Curriculum Revision, the Ad Hoc Committee for the Revision of Philosophy and Objectives, the Recruitment Committee for the School and the Nurse Recruitment Committee of the Hospital. She developed and directed the Health Awareness Program for second graders held annually at NEBH. She was a member of the American Association for Counseling and Development, the New England Personnel and Guidance Association, American College Personnel Association, and the National League for Nursing. She also was a volunteer counselor at the Abigail Elliot Mental Health Center in Concord, MA.
After moving to South Dartmouth, Mrs. Arnold held a position as Client Services Coordinator for the Nursing Career Access Program at Bristol Community College until her retirement in late 1990. Locally, she was involved in the Lumbard Volunteers, The Women's Auxiliary, New Bedford Women's Luncheon Club, WHALE, Old Dartmouth Historical Society, the Rotch Jones Duff House, and was a Dartmouth Town Meeting member for several years. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Dartmouth Natural Recources Trust, and particularly enjoyed her associations there.
She was a member of Sigma Epsilon Rho Honor Society, MENSA, and Intertel Ltd.
Survivors include two daughters, Lisa S. Arnold of Westport, Susan A. Hirshlag of Freetown and a son, Steven A. Arnold of South Dartmouth, five grandchildren, Randell Hirschmann, Karl Hirschmann, Peter Hirschmann, Debra Hirshlag and Jennifer Hirshlag Ward, four nieces, three nephews and six great-grandchildren.
Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of her life at the Wamsutta Club on Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Any contributions in her memory would be appreciated by The Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, P.O. Box P-17, Dartmouth, MA 02748 or an organization of the donor's choice.
If transportation is needed call Lisa Arnold at (508) 626-6272.
Her family would like to express their gratitude to the healthcare team at St. Luke's Hospital.