Frank Victor Arundell Jr.

Frank Victor Arundell Jr. passed away peacefully in his home in Palm Beach Gardens, FL on the morning of October 10, 2023. He was 93. Frank was born on February 25, 1930 to loving parents Frank Arundell Sr. and Anne (Hughes) Arundell in their home in Woodhaven, Queens, NY. Frank was little brother by seven years to Marie (Arundell) James, who loved him dearly and whom he cherished. From an early age, Frank possessed an amazing gift for drawing and painting, and won many awards as a youth. After high school, Frank studied at The Art Student’s League in NYC. Having never attended college, he educated himself by becoming a voracious reader. He would delve into anything that interested him, devouring book after book. Frank was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in Japan. While there, he befriended Father Peter Kopp, a German Jesuit and survivor of the Hiroshima bomb, whose strength and guidance resonated with Frank all of his life. Frank married Doris T. Smith of Woodhaven, NY in 1955 and the couple had three children: Frank III, Denise, and Andrea. The family resided in New Hyde Park on Long Island. Beginning in the mid 1950s, Frank started a 25 year career at Dancer, Fitzgerald and Sample advertising agency, where he eventually became a Creative Director and Vice President. He specialized in television, directing many commercials for various advertising campaigns, most notably Bayer Aspirin. In the late 1970s, Frank took up residence in Manhattan, where he met and later married Mary McHugh in 1984. Together, they consecutively designed and built two houses in rural Upstate New York. They loved to entertain weekend guests there, and many passionate discussions involving politics and religion, fueled by fine wine, were had around the dinner table. Frank continued his advertising career as founding member of Franklin Laurence Agency and subsequently rented a studio in Tribeca in order to paint full time. After losing his larynx to cancer in 1989, Frank and Mary moved to Riverdale, Bronx, NY. and Frank moved his studio to Dobbs Ferry, NY. The couple briefly lived in Niantic, CT, before retiring to West Palm Beach, FL, where Frank was overjoyed to finally own his own palm trees. Eventually, Frank pivoted from painting to more academic pursuits. In his own words to his grandson, “Painting and drawing is what I did best. That I can say I was good at. Now I write essays for fun. Some good some not so good.” He was most content early in the morning in his den, reading and writing, surrounded by things that were meaningful to him. Frank thoroughly enjoyed sending his “Out of the Blue” emails to an extensive list of recipients, sharing articles he felt were important for us to read. Topics ranged from religion to politics to current events, or often, a combination of all three. Perhaps Frank’s greatest legacy is renovabis.com, his theological blog where he posted his Viewpoint essays and a collection of 68 self-published books, available to anyone interested. He offered them in an “if you have time“ manner, but he hoped that one day, we would read them all. At the very end, when he was unable to sit up to type, he was sure to forward Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermon to us all. During the last few years of his life, Frank’s care was overseen by his devoted and diligent son Frank III, to whom we are most grateful. All three of Frank’s children had the opportunity to spend precious time with him several weeks before his passing. Frank was predeceased by his parents, Anne Hughes Arundell and Frank V. Arundell, and his sister Marie James. He is survived by his wife Mary; children Frank Arundell III and partner Ingrid, Denise Swensen and husband Chris, Andrea Letters and husband Cameron; grandchildren Blair Kjørvestad, Kelsey Swensen Kickbush, Matthew Swensen, Callum Letters, Alex Letters and great grand daughter Emeline Kickbush. Frank was a loving and devoted husband and father, and his beautiful sprit will live on through all who were lucky enough to know him. A Memorial Mass honoring Frank will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 9:30 am at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church, 100 Crestwood Blvd S, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411, followed by a short ceremony at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery, 10941 Southern Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Frank’s favorite parish, Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in West Palm Beach, FL.

Frank Victor Arundell Jr.

February 25, 1930 - October 10, 2023