Obituary for Alan Norton Arnson, M.D.
Alan Norton Arnson, M.D., 87, of Bittinger, MD, died Saturday, January 21, 2023, at Garrett Regional Medical Center, Oakland, MD.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 29, 1935, to the late Belle (Biales) and George G. Arnson. He was also preceded in death by his three siblings and their spouses, Arthur (Aileen) Arnson, Robert (Nancy) Arnson and Arline (Wilbur) Horwitz and grandson, Leo Vincent Arnson.
Alan is survived by his wife, Sue (Blair) Arnson; by his children, David Arnson, Diane (John) Arnson Svarlien, Leslie (Peter Grenier) Arnson and Josh Arnson; by Sue’s children, Peter (Laura) Waxdal and Sedgewick (Abby Hill) Waxdal; by 10 grandchildren, Ruby, Hannah, Daniel, Aaron, Corinna, Erik, Kat, Theo, Lucy and Ivy; as well as by many nieces and nephews (who admired their Uncle Alan for his “spirit of adventure and wonder”) and their spouses, children, and grandchildren.
Alan was educated at Cleveland Heights High School and Yale University (Class of 1956), where he majored in German literature. After graduating from college he married Nancy L. Matthews, with whom he had four children. He spent a year in Germany (1956-57) studying philosophy at the University of Bonn on a Fulbright scholarship. He was drawn to psychiatry by his interest in the relationship between mind and body, and upon returning from Germany he received his training at Cornell Medical School and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, followed by psychiatric residencies at Yale University and the National Institute of Mental Health. He practiced psychiatry in the Washington, D.C. area from 1964-1986. In 1983, he married Sue, and in 1986, Alan and Sue took up full-time residence in Garrett County. They managed and improved their home and wooded property, Arnson Farm, where Alan had enjoyed spending time with his family and friends since 1970. From 1986-2022, Alan worked as a psychiatrist at various clinics in Western Maryland. He served the recovery community for over three decades and was active in the arts community as a woodworker and a drummer in the Garrett Highlands Pipes and Drums. He was a member of B’er Chayim Congregation in Cumberland. Alan was admired for his intellectual curiosity, his love of nature, his passion for music, and his sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
A private burial service will be held and a Celebration of Alan’s Life, to which the community is invited, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2023, at the Cornucopia Café, 146 Casselman Rd., Grantsville, MD 21536.
The family asks anyone who is not vaccinated against COVID to please wear a mask at the event.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.newmanfuneralhomes.com.
Expressions of sympathy may be directed to Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (artsandentertainment.org) or to the Garrett County Arts Council (garrettarts.org).
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 29, 1935, to the late Belle (Biales) and George G. Arnson. He was also preceded in death by his three siblings and their spouses, Arthur (Aileen) Arnson, Robert (Nancy) Arnson and Arline (Wilbur) Horwitz and grandson, Leo Vincent Arnson.
Alan is survived by his wife, Sue (Blair) Arnson; by his children, David Arnson, Diane (John) Arnson Svarlien, Leslie (Peter Grenier) Arnson and Josh Arnson; by Sue’s children, Peter (Laura) Waxdal and Sedgewick (Abby Hill) Waxdal; by 10 grandchildren, Ruby, Hannah, Daniel, Aaron, Corinna, Erik, Kat, Theo, Lucy and Ivy; as well as by many nieces and nephews (who admired their Uncle Alan for his “spirit of adventure and wonder”) and their spouses, children, and grandchildren.
Alan was educated at Cleveland Heights High School and Yale University (Class of 1956), where he majored in German literature. After graduating from college he married Nancy L. Matthews, with whom he had four children. He spent a year in Germany (1956-57) studying philosophy at the University of Bonn on a Fulbright scholarship. He was drawn to psychiatry by his interest in the relationship between mind and body, and upon returning from Germany he received his training at Cornell Medical School and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, followed by psychiatric residencies at Yale University and the National Institute of Mental Health. He practiced psychiatry in the Washington, D.C. area from 1964-1986. In 1983, he married Sue, and in 1986, Alan and Sue took up full-time residence in Garrett County. They managed and improved their home and wooded property, Arnson Farm, where Alan had enjoyed spending time with his family and friends since 1970. From 1986-2022, Alan worked as a psychiatrist at various clinics in Western Maryland. He served the recovery community for over three decades and was active in the arts community as a woodworker and a drummer in the Garrett Highlands Pipes and Drums. He was a member of B’er Chayim Congregation in Cumberland. Alan was admired for his intellectual curiosity, his love of nature, his passion for music, and his sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
A private burial service will be held and a Celebration of Alan’s Life, to which the community is invited, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2023, at the Cornucopia Café, 146 Casselman Rd., Grantsville, MD 21536.
The family asks anyone who is not vaccinated against COVID to please wear a mask at the event.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.newmanfuneralhomes.com.
Expressions of sympathy may be directed to Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (artsandentertainment.org) or to the Garrett County Arts Council (garrettarts.org).