UNH Today

Arnold Linsky, professor emeritus of sociology, passed away on June 27, 2017. He served the Department of Sociology and the University of New Hampshire from 1966 to 1997.

Obituary

LINSKY, Arnold S. "Arnie" Of Durham, NH, 84, passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 27. Arnie was born in Boston, Mass on July 8, 1932 to John Linsky and Mary Cohen Linsky. Shortly after Arnie's birth, the family moved to Ashland, Mass, where Arnie grew up alongside his sister Eleanor (now living in LA) and brother Barry (now in NYC). Arnie was a football star at Ashland High, then received a football scholarship at Dartmouth College where he majored in Sociology at Dartmouth, graduating in 1954 and then continued on to The Graduate School of Sociology at the University of Washington, in Seattle. Arnie and Betty were married in Seattle in February 1955. His studies were interrupted by two years in the Army, where Arnie served as a medic in an Army clinic in Germany. Returning to Seattle, Arnie and Betty had two children, Nicholas in 1963 and Isabella in 1966. Arnie earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Washington in 1966 and then began a 34 year career at the University of New Hampshire. He was Full Professor and Department Chair, and a "troubleshooter" for the Dean of Liberal Arts, retiring from UNH in 2000. Arnie published numerous papers and coauthored two books, Rebellion and Retreat and Social Stress in the US, and led a yearly international stress conference, with experts in the field, held in Hawaii, London, Paris, Venice among other venues. Arnie is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty, a retired social worker, his two children, Nicholas, a computer professional, and Isabella, a Montessori teacher, and by his granddaughters Druinn and Mirah Johnston and great granddaughter, Aria Tiano. After retirement Arnie and Betty traveled throughout the US and Europe while continuing to live in Durham NH. They dabbled in antiques, focusing on old books. Arnie was a man of great intelligence, but more importantly was a great person. We will miss his wit and love for the rest of our lives. There will be a small family-only memorial service. Those wishing to may leave a donation to the Arnold S. Linsky Fund at UNH, "Established to provide Department of Sociology Graduate students with funds for research, attendance at conferences and other professional activities." Checks payable to "University Foundation Inc", with a note in the Memo Field: "For Arnold S Linsky Graduate Endowment (G004)", may be sent to: UNH Foundation Inc, Elliott Alumni Center, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham NH 03824.

Published in The Boston Globe on June 30, 2017.