Harold Arkava
New London — Harold Julius Arkava, the son of Mollie and Sam Arkava, was born in New London on June 7, 1926. A ’44 Bulkeley Boys School graduate, he enlisted in the Navy June 3, 1944, serving till July 5, 1946. His mother had to sign his enlistment papers, since he was not yet 18. He received the American Theater and Victory Medals.
Upon discharge he went to University of Connecticut on the GI Bill and graduated in 1950. An English professor thought him a brilliant student and encouraged him to attend law school, but he told the professor he wanted to go into business. He set out for New York City and lived in Brooklyn and Harlem for six years, enjoying Jazz in Harlem and the Village while working as a salesman. He prided himself in being a salesman and a peddler, did well and enjoyed New York. He particularly loved hearing and seeing Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Slam Stewart and Frank Sinatra, especially his rendition of “That’s Life.” And he loved seeing Nina Simone at the Vanguard.
Harold loved to ski, to eat and to travel. He was a gourmet cook who was known for his shrimp scampi and stuffed mushrooms. This despite the fact that his mother, as he admitted, made “the hardest matza balls in the world.” He was also a master turkey carver, relied upon every year by his entire family. “There was no turkey left on the carcass.” He also mixed a mean martini for his friends.
He went to Europe for three months in 1957, the Far East in 1959, and Europe, Scandinavia, North Africa and Israel in 1964. He lived life with gusto, declaring that “the only thing wrong with life is that it is too short.”
From 1957 to ’59 Harold and Carl Sherman ran a DeSoto dealership in Norwich, with an aggressive and creative advertising campaign. He came to be known as “Crazy Harold.” After that venture Harold brokered used cars and often acted as a purchasing agent for individuals seeking a specific automobile.
When Harold settled back in his parents’ home on Bulkeley Place, he dove into New London life, and Democratic town politics, serving on the town committee for many years, and on the Planning and Zoning Commission for 16 years, nine as chairman. Those appearing before the Planning and Zoning noted Harold’s assertiveness in making clear his questions and concerns about proposed projects.
In 1980 he began to collect redeemable bottles and cans to raise money for the Bulkeley Scholarship Fund, an endeavor he considered the most important accomplishment of his life. The fund grew to well over one million dollars and grants scholarships annually to lineal descendants of Bulkeley School graduates.
He walked well over five miles each day collecting these redeemables. Through these walks he got to know and banter with many of the citizens of New London. He loved cruising down Pequot Avenue to take in the beautiful view and end up at Ocean Beach, a favorite haunt to hang out with his buddies.
The New London Rotary honored Harold twice: in 2001 with the Unsung Hero Award and in 2007 with a Paul Harris Award, the highest honor a Rotary Club can bestow.
Harold was close to many people and considered many to be family and friends. Among them are Roseann Marks, her daughter Sara Wilhelm, and granddaughter Bella; Tony LaLima, who helped Harold with the Bulkeley Boys Reunions and cared for him in his later years; Attorney Martin and Rona Rutchik, who shared life in both New York City, Norwich and New London; Morgan McGinley, retired editorial page editor of The Day; and his remarkably close and dedicated friend, the late Myron Hendel.
Harold is survived by his cousins, Nancy Ogulnick Trostler, Susan Ogulnick Schaeffer, Herm Ogulnick, Rob Ogulnick; nieces, Marsha Weinstein of Tel Aviv, Israel, and Lisa Weinstein Goldberg and grandnephew Josh Goldberg of Carmel, N.Y. He was predeceased by his sister Frances Arkava Weinstein and his brother-in-law Beryl Weinstein of Guilford.
Friends and family wish to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Beechwood Convalescent Home, and Jerry Fischer for the loving care they provided him during the last years of his life.
Harold passed Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. Burial was private. A memorial celebration of Harold’s life will be held at Ocean Beach this Spring or Summer as soon as pandemic restrictions are lifted.
Donations in Harold’s name may be made to the New London Education Foundation’s Harold Arkava Bulkeley Boys Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 343, New London, CT 06320, which will award an annual grant to a NLHS graduate pursuing postHigh School studies.
Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington Street, New London assisted with arrangements.
As we come to the end of a collective year of pandemic firsts, Valentine’s Day is next up. And showing love and gratitude can feel more important than ever.
Perhaps during a regular year, you and your dearest might have gone out for a romantic dinner, or somewhere special like the theater or a concert. Or maybe you’d have chosen to stay in and have a quiet evening ... but this year we’ve all had a lot of those.
If food is your love language, however, there are lots of ways to make this Valentine’s Day feel special without putting your health at risk or spending a lot of cash.
COOKING FOR 2 (OR A FAMILY)
Starting with the totally DIY: a home-cooked dinner for two. (Or more, if you have kids or others at home; this year, Valentine’s Day may well be a family affair.)
Is there a place you’ve vacationed that holds a special place in your hearts? A honeymoon in Thailand, an escape to New Mexico, a bike tour through Tuscany? Let that be the inspiration for your dinner. Plan a menu featuring your favorite dishes from that region: Recreate that pasta dish you adored in Lucca or those enchiladas from Santa Fe.
Or maybe there was a trip you were planning to take, and still hope to. Think about the meals you want to eat once you do get there: chakalaka and pap from South Africa, maybe, callaloo from Trinidad and Tobago, paella from Spain. Dive into a cookbook or a reputable website and make that your mission for dinner.
TAKEOUT TWISTS
For less work, order in something special from a local restaurant, maybe one you’ve never tried before that specializes in a cuisine you might be unfamiliar with.
Some local eateries might be offering Valentine’s Day takeout meals, or menu items for special occasions. For instance, if you are feeling splurgey and live in New York City, Michelin-starred Aquavit has a very upscale meal kit for two, featuring your choice of entree (think rack of lamb or arctic char), plus a bunch of sides, and desserts including chocolate cake with mascarpone and coffee cream.
FOOD KITS
Or get yourself a kit and unravel the mystery of a new kind of food together. Uncommon Goods has a Chinese Soup Making Kit, Brooklyn Brew Shop has a bunch of beer making kits, and MMTUM shop has a molecular gastronomy cooking kit if you really want to geek out with your partner in the kitchen.
Williams-Sonoma has kits for making everything from the famous Rainbow Explosion Cake from Flour Shop, to a Cocktail Infusion Kit, to a mozzarella and ricotta-making kit. Internationally focused TakeOutKit.com will send you the basics for making everything from Japanese Tonkotsu Ramen to Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup to Aji de Gallina from Peru.
CLASSES FROM CUPID
Many classes offered online are geared specifically towards Valentine’s Day.
Sur La Table has an assortment of cooking classes geared towards Date Night, and the offerings around Valentine’s Day are robust. Choose from Sushi at Home, Italian Steakhouse and Cooking with Wine themed classes. Or learn how to make Pomegranate Kir Royales and Rack of Lamb with Polenta with celebrity chef Terrance Brennan. You’ll need to download the prep packet and purchase the ingredients to cook along.
Murray’s Cheese has expanded their selection of virtual classes, which include one on making cheese boards, and one on creating a “Most Decadent Valentine’s Day.” All the classes can be taken live or bought to view later. Cheeses and pairings such as sweets and preserves will be sent to your home ahead of the class.
If you and your boo are coffee fiends, there are some fun online choices. B Corp Counter Culture Coffee has online classes dedicated to making coffee experts out of coffee lovers. One, “Cupping,” helps participants develop their palate and learn the differences between coffee processing techniques, varieties, origins and brewing variables. You need to have some equipment on hand, and they’ll send the rest. Next time you head to your coffee shop, you can go toeto-toe with the baristas.
Eventbrite is a website that offers all kinds of events and classes on subjects ranging from Indian cooking to cocktail-making, and free workshops, too, such as one on how to make a chocolate lava cake. At MasterClass, another online class hub, the classes are taught by the likes of Thomas Keller and Gabriela Camara, so they are pricier.
Finally, breakfast in bed is a very pandemic-proof way to celebrate the holiday.