Thomas J. Arend Obituary (1946 - 2023)

Born May 28, 1946, Thomas J. Arend was faculty at Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukie, OR. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Thomas J. Arend.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Birth	May 28, 1946
Date of Passing	Apr 26, 2023
About	As shared to Facebook by his son, Nick Arend "I wanted to make a formal announcement and share the passing of Mr. Arend. Not only was he one of my favorite teachers, but I also had the honor of having him as a father. My dad loved being a teacher. It was one of the few things in his life that he was incredibly passionate about. Most would not know this, but he was a very introverted person. However, once he got into his classroom, he was in his element. Anytime I run into a previous school mate or previous Putnam Alumni, they inevitably told me that Mr. Arend was their favorite teacher, and would then proceed to tell me what it was that made him so special. I truly believe that my dad was put on this earth to be an educator. He had a special way of reaching students that didn’t want to be reached, elevating excitement from those who already enjoyed his classes and making learning fun. The number one memory people share with me was his lectures on WW2 and the impact it had on the world. Some of his early students even had the opportunity to take part in class trips to Europe and visit those landmarks he spoke so passionately about. After retiring in 2008, his health steadily declined. He was stubborn as an ox and was persistent that his mind over matter mentality would outweigh his poor health. The middle of 2022 he was no longer capable of taking care of himself. The services he required were greater than what I could provide. We found a good care facility in Portland, where he settled in, and it became his home for a little over a year. During that time, he was every nurse’s favorite patient. They said he was so polite, warm hearted and always welcomed staff/visitors with a smile. Even when he was hospitalized in a bed, he took advantage of every opportunity to teach, influence or educate in some sort of fashion. He took his final breath October 29th, 2023. Luckily, I was at his bedside while holding his hand. To my knowledge, he wasn’t in pain and went peacefully. It brings me great joy knowing he was liked and appreciated by such a large majority of his students and colleagues. On behalf of my father, I’d like to say thank you to all who had him as a teacher or perhaps even influenced outside of his class. Because of you, he felt fulfilled with his career. He often told me that even if he only made a difference with one student, it was all worthwhile. I know in my heart, that he made a difference to many of you, which confirms his efforts. With love, Nick Arend (Graduating class of 1999)"

Classmate Memories

Message

Trisha Wick '97 said:

Mr.Arend was the only social studies teacher to ever inspire me. His stories about Russian history were enthralling. His kindness to his students was beyond reproach. I hope I’ve impacted half as many students as he did.

Comment

Message

Sherie Honarvar '94 said:

Hi Nick. I’m so grateful I ran across this and these beautiful words from you. Class of 94 here. Well, your dad was an amazing teacher and my absolute favorite. He actually changed my life beyond what he ever knew. When I was a sophomore, I had a significant death in my family that really rocked my world. It was my first death experience with someone close to me. The way your dad handled it and guided me and not so many words change my life forever. He is one of the people that is turning point for me in my life. I’ll always remember him.

Comment

Message

Thomas Higginson '97 said:

I remember his classes vividly. He brought the world out there to life in a way few others had. He made me hungry for and helped fill me with wonder. I remember one day we were saying goodbye at the end of class. Everyone was saying goodbye in different languages ("sayonara!" Etc) I had been dabbling with Irish Gaelic and showed off a little. I said goodbye in Irish. (This was before Duolingo or Rosetta Stone, so you had to go out of your way to pick this stuff up.) He noticed and said "Very good!" It was generous of him to make me feel seen and appreciated.

My heartfelt condolences to all those who knew and loved him. May his memory be a blessing.

Comment