Arnold Lee Daitch

As a son of immigrants, he worked hard to provide for his family from a very young age. This drive and ambition led to an impressive career with the United States Postal Service, where he started as an overnight mail sorter and rose through the ranks to become the Postmaster of Washington, D.C., then promoted to Senior Executive Leadership at the end of his career. After 35 years of service, he retired in 1992 as the Director of Operations for the Eastern Region at the USPS Regional Headquarters in Philadelphia, PA. While he had many opportunities to advance even farther in the organization, he chose instead to spend his later years enjoying life, taking multiple cross country trips before settling in Los Angeles in 2000 to be close to his children, grandchildren, and other extended family.

Arnold made the San Fernando Valley home in 2001. He and his wife, Jean, were both active members of the local Jewish community. Shortly after joining Temple Beth Torah in Granada Hills, he became President of the congregation. With Jean at his side as “First Lady,” he poured his heart and soul into the role. They were the first to arrive and last to leave at Shabbat and holiday services, making sure everything was set up and enjoyed by their fellow congregants. New faces were always welcomed with warm southern hospitality, and life-long friendships were created.

Although his cancer diagnosis in 2019 slowed him down a bit, his zest for life, thirst for knowledge, enjoyment of current events, competition, politics, and keeping active never diminished. For the past few years at The Village at Northridge Independent Living Facility, he was a huge presence and enjoyed a robust social life— briefly serving as President of the Resident Association, having lively dinner conversations and discussions in the big living room, and participating in as many activities as he could, even as his health declined.

He was many things to a lot of people. To his wife of 55 years, Jean, he was a strong partner, best friend, motivator and caregiver. He was thrilled to spend each day with her and bragged to the very end about how lucky they were to have each other. To his kids, Jonathan and Brenda, he was a great friend, mentor, texting buddy (their text threads were monstrous), and shoulder to cry on. He loved his grandchildren Mia, Tess, and Charles dearly and was a tireless cheerleader and proud Papa—amused by watching them grow up so quickly. To friends and extended family, he was a joyful conversationalist and support for those in need.

He will be greatly missed, but would not want anyone to dwell on sadness or loss. He would insist we all live our lives fully without turning back—exactly as he did.