John Arnold Edelman

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John Arnold Edelman Known to family as “Arnold”, passed away on August 25, 2021, aged 97. Survivors include his wife of over 75 years, Margaret Monteith Edelman; daughter Nancy Edelman; his three sons, John Duncan Edelman, Richard Edelman (Jennifer Edelman), and Peter Edelman, and five grandchildren, Emily Edelman, Ariel Neal, Krista Edelman, MD, Anna Edelman, and John Scot Edelman. Arnold is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Luke Cowardin, Brendan Bulea, Darwin Bulea, and Addie Cowardin. Arnold was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey on August 16, 1924, the second of three children born to John Edelman and Kate Van Eaton. After his first year of college at Harvard University, Arnold enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a B-17 bomber pilot and crew commander at the age of 19. He flew 35 missions in the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe achieving the rank of First Lieutenant in the Air Corps. At the conclusion of his military service he returned to Harvard, graduating in 1948 with a degree in Economics. His career entailed dynamic and vital work with the Marshall Plan in rebuilding the economies of post-war Europe as well as decades of service at the World Bank. His area of economic expertise during his tenure at the World Bank began with the Philippines and grew to include the Far East Division. Arnold was a track star in high school and all his life maintained a devotion to a healthy and athletic lifestyle. Together he and Margaret enjoyed skiing and tennis and yoga into their eighties and Arnold began each day with light exercise throughout his nineties. He was a lifelong progressive and devoted years of volunteer work with the Democratic Party, culminating in being awarded the Mt. Vernon District Democratic Committee Member Award for 2010. Arnold was also a founding member of an aging-in-place community cooperative, Mt. Vernon At Home. The family wishes to express profound gratitude to caregivers, Kate, Christina, and Joyce for their loving care of Arnold during his last years.The memory of John Arnold Edelman’s life of service, generosity, and love will be a continuing blessing to family, friends and community.The memory of John Arnold Edelman’s life of service, generosity, and love will be a continuing blessing to family, friends and community.