THE PASSING OF A GENERATION'
by Joseph M. Giordano

It was sunny by noontime Tuesday, but it was a dark day for Dundalk as 10 pallbearers led the casket of former state delegate John S. Arnick into the cool, crowded space of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church.

Church bells tolled at noon as relatives, friends and political luminaries from both parties filed into the Lynch Road church to pay their final respects to the man who many considered to be one of the best politicians in Maryland's history.

“John without a doubt had a tremendous effect on an entire generation of politicians,” said Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who attended the funeral Mass with his wife, Kendall. “In fact, this is the passing of a generation. He taught all of us how to respect the institution of government and how to conduct ourselves as legislators and members of the General Assembly. I will miss him as a friend and a legislator. We were very close.”

Ehrlich later presented Arnick's widow, Joann, and her family with a folded Maryland flag.

Arnick, who was 72 when he died of cancer on June 13, represented Dundalk in the Maryland legislature for 35 years.

Arnick's dedication to the community is what elected officials like U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger remembered most about the popular politician.

“No matter what,” Ruppersberger said before the funeral, “he just wanted to make sure the people of Dundalk were taken care of first. I learned a lot from John. He was one of the best politicians in Maryland history, as far as I'm concerned. There won't be another one like him.”

Arnick, who was born on Dunhill Road, served in the U.S. Marines during the 1950s and was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1967.

He was House majority leader from 1971 to '79 and 1987-90.

In February 1993, Arnick left the House when then-Gov. William Donald Schaefer nominated him to become a District Court judge. Arnick removed himself from consideration amid allegations that he made a derogatory remark at a domestic violence dinner.

Arnick was back in the House in September 1993, when he was chosen by the 6th District Democratic Central Committee to fill the seat created by the death of Ed “Nipper” Schafer.

Ehrlich appointed Arnick to the state Board of Contract Appeals earlier this year, so the delegate resigned his 6th District seat after the 2006 legislative session. The vacancy has been filled by John Olszewski Jr.

Arnick worked at his new job for just one day, May 1, before falling ill with pneumonia. At Johns Hopkins Hospital he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Over his long career in Maryland politics, Arnick impressed many friends and fellow politicians with his wit and knowledge of the legal process.

“I always went to John for advice,” said State Del. Joseph “Sonny” Minnick (6th District), a longtime friend. “He always gave solid, basic advice like ‘Worry about people in your district first.' I'll certainly miss him.”

U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin recalled Arnick's sharp mind and busy work ethic.

“He was absolutely brilliant,” Cardin said before the funeral. “[Arnick] passed on his knowledge and humor to other delegates and young legislators. He was a doer. I never saw him sit down. John was always working.”

State senator and 6th District legislative colleague Norman Stone, another personal friend who was one of 19 honorary pallbearers - which included former Maryland governor Marvin Mandel - choked up while remembering his longtime friend.

“You can't imagine how much I will miss John,” said Stone, who has known Arnick for over 42 years. “It hurts.”

Stone remembered the late delegate as being a hard worker and a mentor to up-and-coming politicians.

“John was something else,” Stone said. “Everyone went to him for advice. John was there for everyone. He was incredibly dedicated to his job and to the people of Dundalk.”

“John was the first one in and the last to leave,” Stone said before following the casket into the crowded church and past a smiling portrait of the former delegate, John S. Arnick.

Copyright © 2006 Dundalk Eagle
Published June 22, 2006.