“Bob Arnold was one of those rare individuals that
stared at adversity every waking day and laughed in its face,” said Hall Of
Famer John Berry, Assistant Race Secretary at Pompano Park. "He fought
such a courageous fight in the midst of us all with such determination and a
positive outlook. He redefined the meaning of courage. I'm sure being
around the horses kept him going much longer than the doctors thought he
would be able to."
Arnold basked in the glory of the winner’s circle on 58 occasions during his
career—half of them in 1984—and, in recent years, competed in Florida Amateur
Driving Club events, something that was very close to his heart. He
once stated “...we have such a wonderful group of amateur drivers that
donate their driver’s fees to charity and give harness racing the great image
it deserves. It is an honor to be in their midst on the racetrack.”
Ironcially, the last win of his life was at 70-1, but really Bob Arnold faced
double-digit odds much of his life. As an infant, he was diagnosed with
melanoma and given radiation treatments and, as a teenager, it was discovered
he had diabetes. Two heart bypass surgeries were also in his history but
his most amazing health story came in the form of a 1996 Christmas present from
his wife Renee, who was found to be a match when Bob needed a life-saving
kidney transplant. The story of Renee donating a kidney to her husband received
widespread mainstream media coverage in South Florida.
“Talk about long odds, Bob faced odds of a million to one or more,” said Berry,
“and for the final sixteen years of his life
he won. He was that special individual who made our problems
seem small.”
Bob Arnold is survived by his wife, Renee, as well as a daughter, Nicole, a
son, Michael and two grandchildren, Tessa and Jaxson.
Services are to be held Saturday, April 28 at the Scoobie-Combes-Bowden
Funeral Home in Boynton Beach, Florida. For further information, you may call
561-732-8151.
