Kenneth Arnold, an active participant in Rochester community activities, served as an adjunct computer science and engineering professor since 2005.
The professor died suddenly on Oct. 1, at 51 years old. In his honor, University flags on the Eastman Quadrangle were flown at half-staff on Monday, Oct. 6.
Arnold’s educational experience had developed in Rochester and the surrounding area.
He graduated from Akron High School in 1975 and, afterward, he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology.
During his time at RPI, Arnold was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Academic Society. In 1983, he earned his master’s degree in computer engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.
After his graduation from RPI, he started his career with the Eastman Kodak Company.
His job was to copy products and work in the research lab, and he participated in product development at both local and international levels.
While at Kodak, Arnold was awarded with three patents during his service of 26 years.
After holding a membership of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for three decades and serving as chapter chairperson, he was awarded Senior Membership the same year he started to lecture as a UR adjunct professor.
He was a very active person in the Rochester community. For example, he was a member of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church and was known for his participation in Consistent Ethic of Life.
Arnold was one of the founding members of the Adult Step Cell Initiative, Inc. and Common Group of Upstate N.Y.
In addition to all of these positions, he also had held a leadership role in the Genesee Valley Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Arnold was also involved with community programs for youth, such as coaching soccer.
Arnold started teaching Introductory Computer Programming, CSC 170, in the fall of 2005, a course for non-major students who need this to fill the requirement for their cluster.
This fall, he taught Introduction to Computers, CSC 108. These courses will be covered by Undergraduate Program Director of Computer Science Ted Pawlicki and Associate Professor of Computer Science Joel Seiferas for the remainder of the semester.
The department of computer science is going to have a memorial service in Arnold’s honor on Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. The location of the ceremony is yet to be announced.
‘This will be an informal interactive workshop-style gathering for any current or former students or members of the community who wish to join in,” Marty Guenther, a liaison of the computer science department, said.
Guenther worked closely with Arnold in his role as an administrative assistant at UR. Guenther commented on Arnold’s sympathetic approach to teaching his classes.
‘Ken tried to make computer science fun for students who may have thought they weren’t suited to technical things,” Guenther said.
A student of Arnold’s reacted to his professor’s sudden death, and he commented on his experience taking Arnold’s class.
‘I only had his class for about two weeks, but it was a class I enjoyed,” Eric Hernandez said.
Despite his short time with the professor, Hernandez positively reviewed his time attending Arnold’s class.
‘Professor Arnold was very knowledgeable,” he said. ‘He was able to clearly answer any questions we had on the subject.”
Islam is a member of the class of 2011.
