Our colleague Bob Arufo succumbed to cancer on December 2, 2001. This page is a tribute to his memory.

Drawings © Jack Martin

Elegy for Bob Arufo 1/12/2002

C. Van Youngman

The earthly life of Bob Arufo is over. No longer will he need face those four mundane imperatives of 21st century existence....death, taxes, New Jersey and republicans.

Fortunately Bob had many more lives than that one. In all of his other lives he is still very much alive and with us. The first such life is his remarkable family...Helene, Regina, Vera, Amerigo, Arthur, Eugene and Leonard, with them a huge extended family and Nikki and of course, Gilmour and Merideth, who hopefully may some day carry Bob’s genes into a new generation. This service is for you.

In one life that will out survive everyone here by centuries is his life as a fine artist. Fortunately for us he was prolific and his third floor is a literal treasure trove of masterpieces.

Another life was the Art Institute of Philadelphia. More about that at 12:30, except to say that you are holding on your persons Bob’s legacy to the design world. This order of service program was put together by one of the many brilliant Bob Arufo trained graphic artists all over the world today, Kimberly Meyers. Try reading her tribute to Bob on the back without shedding a tear.

Another life of Bob’s was his impressive and here I pause in deference to Lynn my wife and Nikki, Bob’s wife. They suggested such names as Bob’s circle, Bob’s coterie, Bob’s group, Bob’s entourage or Bob’s set. Forgive me but I use my original word. Bob’s harem. You have just heard one of its members sing Gabrielle Faure’s Pie Jesu. The others know who they are. Remarkable women all, except the one from Piscataway who for some reason, I never had chance to meet.

Still another life was the world of his many wonderful friends and they are going to join Bob’s school colleagues as we reminisce at the Art Institute. These other lives have helped me greatly to get over a staggering loss. I close now by turning things over to Brother Bob Jackson who will tell you about a life many of you know nothing about..... his work life, and I hope he will leave out such matters as Fish-house Punch and Christmas parties.