Obituary for Arnold Charles Rifkin
Arnold Charles Rifkin, a former television engineer, photographer and professional chef, passed away at his home on May 4, 2022 at the age of 93.
Arnold is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Sally Rifkin (nee Conn); his sons Alan, Scott and David; daughters-in-love Leslie, Fran and Connie; grandchildren Robert and Mariya, Bradley and Priscilla, Daniel and Lillian, Amy and Robert, Joshua, Adam, Brianna and Blake, and great grandchildren Aaron, Benjamin and Ruth. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-love, Lenny and Beverly Rifkin.
Raised by a single mom without means during the Great Depression, Arnold set his sights on making his way in the world and what he called “having a real family.” Arnold graduated from Baltimore City College in 1947 and worked as an x-ray technician for the Baltimore City Health Department. It soon became apparent that Arnold could “fix, build or do anything.”
In 1949, he married the love of his life, Sally Conn, who he fell in love with “at first sight” and always described as his “beautiful wife.” And, for the next 73 years, Arnold and Sally were inseparable – the closest of friends and constant companions. As Sally described in her memoir, Arnold was: “Always there for me, our children and grandchildren. For every birthday, bris and graduation. For every school open house, sporting event and wedding.” Arnold, who had a passion for photography, took thousands of pictures “showing his pride in his wonderful family.”
While serving in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, he earned an award as the best sharpshooter in his division and studied radar engineering. Under the GI Bill, he also studied radio engineering and with the advent of television, began working at WAAM (now WJZ), the local NBC station, in January 1957. It is said that he and a colleague “turned on the lights” for TV in Baltimore.
And, he had a front row seat to history. Working with the news department, Arnold covered President Kennedy’s funeral in Washington, DC, a hostage crisis at the University of Maryland Hospital in 1978 (where he received a commendation for helping bring calm to the situation, “ensuring the safety of all concerned”), gubernatorial elections, storms, fires, and, his favorite, sporting events.
In 1974, Arnold developed the idea of attaching a television camera to a van and helped create the mobile news that became prevalent in the industry. In 1980, Arnold was given an award by the Society of Motion Pictures TV Engineers for those accomplishments.
In 1987, a workplace accident caused Arnold to lose 95% of his hearing. For a man who loved to sing and converse with others, it was a devastating event. But, Arnold persevered and rekindled a life-long passion for cooking. In 1988, after 30 years in television, Arnold retired and entered the Culinary Institute of Baltimore as a 60 year old freshman. A Baltimore Sun article from March 25, 1988 noted: “A stirring retirement for Arnold Rifkin, engineer extraordinaire at WJZ who will be trading his camera for a Cuisinart.” On his last night at the station, news anchor Denise Koch gave Arnold a rousing tribute, featuring Arnold and the WJZ remote news truck on-air.
In 1989, his sons sent Arnold and Sally to Paris, France so that Arnold could study French cooking. From that point forward, Paris became a special place for Arnold and Sally, where they would live every year for a month during the summer. After graduating from culinary school, Arnold worked as a line chef in various local restaurants, including Linwoods. Renowned throughout the family for his cooking skills, he could always be counted on to bake a Challah or other treats for any family event.
In retirement, Arnold and Sally loved to travel, spend time with family and enjoy each other’s company. Always part of his children’s and grandchildren’s lives, Arnold will be forever remembered and loved as a man of accomplishment, integrity and kindness who achieved his lifelong dream of having a “real family.”
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 6, 2022 at 12:00 pm at Sol Levinson Funeral Home, Pikesville, Maryland. Interment to follow at Hebrew Young Men’s Cemetery, 5950 Windsor Mill Road, Gwynn Oak, Maryland. Shiva will be celebrated by the family at the home of Scott and Fran Rifkin, 1700 Gardiner Road, Cockeysville, Maryland, 21030. The family will be receiving Friday immediately following interment until 6 pm, and Sunday beginning at 1 pm with a service at 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of a contribution in his honor to the Kappa Guild, c/o Sheila Mentz, 4327 Crest Heights Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.
Arnold is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Sally Rifkin (nee Conn); his sons Alan, Scott and David; daughters-in-love Leslie, Fran and Connie; grandchildren Robert and Mariya, Bradley and Priscilla, Daniel and Lillian, Amy and Robert, Joshua, Adam, Brianna and Blake, and great grandchildren Aaron, Benjamin and Ruth. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-love, Lenny and Beverly Rifkin.
Raised by a single mom without means during the Great Depression, Arnold set his sights on making his way in the world and what he called “having a real family.” Arnold graduated from Baltimore City College in 1947 and worked as an x-ray technician for the Baltimore City Health Department. It soon became apparent that Arnold could “fix, build or do anything.”
In 1949, he married the love of his life, Sally Conn, who he fell in love with “at first sight” and always described as his “beautiful wife.” And, for the next 73 years, Arnold and Sally were inseparable – the closest of friends and constant companions. As Sally described in her memoir, Arnold was: “Always there for me, our children and grandchildren. For every birthday, bris and graduation. For every school open house, sporting event and wedding.” Arnold, who had a passion for photography, took thousands of pictures “showing his pride in his wonderful family.”
While serving in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, he earned an award as the best sharpshooter in his division and studied radar engineering. Under the GI Bill, he also studied radio engineering and with the advent of television, began working at WAAM (now WJZ), the local NBC station, in January 1957. It is said that he and a colleague “turned on the lights” for TV in Baltimore.
And, he had a front row seat to history. Working with the news department, Arnold covered President Kennedy’s funeral in Washington, DC, a hostage crisis at the University of Maryland Hospital in 1978 (where he received a commendation for helping bring calm to the situation, “ensuring the safety of all concerned”), gubernatorial elections, storms, fires, and, his favorite, sporting events.
In 1974, Arnold developed the idea of attaching a television camera to a van and helped create the mobile news that became prevalent in the industry. In 1980, Arnold was given an award by the Society of Motion Pictures TV Engineers for those accomplishments.
In 1987, a workplace accident caused Arnold to lose 95% of his hearing. For a man who loved to sing and converse with others, it was a devastating event. But, Arnold persevered and rekindled a life-long passion for cooking. In 1988, after 30 years in television, Arnold retired and entered the Culinary Institute of Baltimore as a 60 year old freshman. A Baltimore Sun article from March 25, 1988 noted: “A stirring retirement for Arnold Rifkin, engineer extraordinaire at WJZ who will be trading his camera for a Cuisinart.” On his last night at the station, news anchor Denise Koch gave Arnold a rousing tribute, featuring Arnold and the WJZ remote news truck on-air.
In 1989, his sons sent Arnold and Sally to Paris, France so that Arnold could study French cooking. From that point forward, Paris became a special place for Arnold and Sally, where they would live every year for a month during the summer. After graduating from culinary school, Arnold worked as a line chef in various local restaurants, including Linwoods. Renowned throughout the family for his cooking skills, he could always be counted on to bake a Challah or other treats for any family event.
In retirement, Arnold and Sally loved to travel, spend time with family and enjoy each other’s company. Always part of his children’s and grandchildren’s lives, Arnold will be forever remembered and loved as a man of accomplishment, integrity and kindness who achieved his lifelong dream of having a “real family.”
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 6, 2022 at 12:00 pm at Sol Levinson Funeral Home, Pikesville, Maryland. Interment to follow at Hebrew Young Men’s Cemetery, 5950 Windsor Mill Road, Gwynn Oak, Maryland. Shiva will be celebrated by the family at the home of Scott and Fran Rifkin, 1700 Gardiner Road, Cockeysville, Maryland, 21030. The family will be receiving Friday immediately following interment until 6 pm, and Sunday beginning at 1 pm with a service at 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of a contribution in his honor to the Kappa Guild, c/o Sheila Mentz, 4327 Crest Heights Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.