Arnold F. Aldridge, 93, beloved husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, uncle, and loyal friend was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 30, 1926, and left this life on May 16, 2020. In the U.S., Arnold primarily lived in New Jersey, Florida (his first retirement home) and, most recently, Birmingham, Alabama (his second retirement home).
Arnold was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Dora Aldridge, his older brother Ken Aldridge, his Sister-in-Law Barbara Aldridge, his brother-in-law Bill Weston, his sisters-in-law Bobbie Bass and Marguerite Ewell, his daughters-in-law Carole Duke and Pat Duke, and his loving wife Iona Aldridge. Arnold is survived by his daughter Joy L. Aldridge, son-in-law David E. Hope and granddaughter Amy Elizabeth Aldridge Hope (all of Birmingham, AL); his sisters Carol Gratton (Dick) and Dorothy Weston, as well as nine nieces and nephews (all of Canada); his step-son Thomas G. Duke (Clarksburg, MD) and step-granddaughters, Margaret McGough (Anthony)(Prattville, AL) and Sharon Hannum (Phil)(Clarksburg, MD); his step-son David W. Duke (Norfolk, VA) and his step-granddaughters, Mary Ellen Daniel (Dan) and Theresa Knowles (Andy) (Chesapeake, VA); as well as eleven great-grandchildren and eleven great-great-grandchildren; he was an honorary and beloved "Uncle Arnold" to many.
Arnold maintained lifelong friends from his childhood; neither time nor distance mattered: once a friend, always a friend. As a child he skated, skied, and played ice hockey; as a young teen he went on long bike rides with friends, from the city to the countryside for weekend excursions.
Canada entered WWII when Arnold was 13; he joined the Army Reserves student youth program (Black Watch Regiment) as he waited to be old enough to serve. The war created a shortage of workers, so Arnold left school to join the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) to become an elevator mechanic. He worked for Turnbull Elevator, Ltd., and then transferred to Otis Elevator Company, where his father also worked. Upon turning 18, Arnold took leave from his job and enlisted. Because soldiers younger than 19 were not permitted to serve outside the country, Arnold completed training, became a Corporal, and was put in charge of 30 soldiers while he was still 18. When the war was over in Europe, Arnold and his soldiers volunteered to go to Japan and the Army sent them west for training. Arnold turned 19 on a troop train going from Quebec to British Columbia, traveling through the beautiful Canadian Rockies. (Years later Arnold and his family would celebrate his 80th birthday on the same train tracks, enjoying the same views, but this time in the luxurious comfort of "The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World" aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.)
The war ended before Arnold and his men went overseas. Arnold returned to Montreal and resumed his employment, worked hard to perfect his craft, and became a member of several fraternal organizations (3rd Degree Mason, Scottish Rite, Shriner).
Since the IUEC is an international union with reciprocity between Canada and the U.S., Arnold was able to obtain a job in Washington, DC when he decided to seek economic opportunity in the States. While on another job assignment in Norfolk, VA, a mutual acquaintance introduced him to Iona, the pretty blonde woman who would become his wife. When Arnold was transferred to New Jersey he and Iona married and they pursued the American Dream together. Arnold became a citizen; went to night school; had a child; bought a house; remained close to family by frequently making the long drive to Montreal or Virginia for the weekend. After a skiing accident Arnold was in traction in the hospital for a month, and on crutches and out of work for several months; he took advantage of the unexpected time off by taking his family on a memorable cross-country road trip. Arnold loved to be Santa and thought everyone deserved a surprise at Christmas; over the years his daughter was surprised to receive a hockey stick and puck, an archery set and a unicycle!
True to his masonic roots, his DIY projects often involved bricklaying (with daughter as helper); he was only half joking when he said that he was "liberating" her when she complained; he told her that she could do or be anything she wanted, including being an elevator constructor.
Arnold’s union wages, overtime pay (from countless calls to get up, drive an hour, and fix a broken elevator in the middle of the night), careful money management, and smart investing provided a comfortable life for his family. He sent his daughter to private school and college. Arnold left Otis and took a job at United Elevator Company, from which he retired in 1990. Arnold was a member of IUEC Local 5, a founding member of the Golden Rail Club, a member of The Lion’s Club (Trenton, NJ), and was always happy to receive a new issue of The Elevator Constructor magazine.
Arnold had a goal of building a house from the ground up and succeeded. He was a winning rummy card player all his life, an avid tennis player at mid-life and an avid golfer in retirement, until a bad knee prompted him to give up golf when he was 89. Shortly before he turned 90, Arnold and Iona relocated to a senior living community in Birmingham, AL, to be closer to their daughter and her family. Six months after they moved, Arnold had the unhappy surprise of becoming a widower. It was a hard adjustment, but he was befriended by his wonderful neighbors and developed true and loving friendships.
Arnold enjoyed attending lectures, sharing a drink and talking with his neighbors during Wine Time, attending parties (especially if the occasion called for a funny costume), playing Bingo, sharing a laugh, and having dinner in the Dining Room with his regular dining companions.
Arnold was very polite and pleasant, had a good sense of humor, liked to hum, sing old songs, and always greeted people by name. He was surprised to have been voted King of Mardi Gras in 2017 because he didn't realize that so many of his neighbors knew him, which prompted a neighbor to say: "I didn't vote for you just because I knew you; I voted for you because I knew that YOU knew ME."
In the Fall of 2019 Arnold suffered a spinal stroke which caused paralysis of his legs and he was also diagnosed with metastatic cancer; after a month of rehab, he was very glad to go back to his "independent living" apartment with hospice and other 24/7 care; the loss of independence was a difficult adjustment, but at least he was home, where he could enjoy dinner with friends and watch hockey on TV.
The family wishes to thank Comfort Care Hospice (especially nurses Susan and Christina), Lipford Home Care (especially caregivers Karen and Candice), and family friends Christy and Brittany, all of whom provided wonderful care and lifted Arnold’s spirits in his final months. The family also wishes to thank Paul Roller, MD and Cliff Arceneaux, PA-C (SeniorCare) for their care and support over the years; Brian Adler, MD (Alabama Oncology) for his compassionate advice; and the staff of the UAB Interventional Radiology department, including Lillie at reception who was always so delighted to see Arnold, the nurses and doctors who did their best to get Arnold in and out quickly so he could make it to Cracker Barrel for brunch after his routine procedure, and Cheryl who handled all sorts of scheduling issues over the years.
Arnold had fond memories of watching and playing hockey on the outdoor rink across from his home as a boy; there was a great view from his parents' bedroom, and his Dad would sometimes need to scrape ice off the window so they could see. Arnold remained a hockey fan for life.
When COVID-19 curtailed live sports, Arnold was relieved to find rebroadcasted "Classic Hockey" games on TV. He was glad to see an encore performance of the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburg Penguins win the Stanley Cup, and was thrilled to see Bobby Clarke (Philadelphia Flyers) and Rod Brind'Amour (Carolina Hurricanes) on the ice as players before they became coaches. When watching a Flyers game from the 70s he noted the lack of helmets and other protective gear. Arnold said that when he was a kid playing hockey on the outdoor rink of his Montreal neighborhood, his protective gear consisted of several magazines shoved down in the front of his skates to act as shin guards when he filled in as goalie; protective gear didn't exist back then, and no one could have afforded it anyway. Please consider a memorial contribution in Arnold’s name to support youth hockey (Alabama Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA), 500 Amphitheater Road, Pelham, AL 35124)(www.birmighambullshockey.com)(205-821-9080).
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