Sad News From Boston: Death of Songwriter Arnold Olenick at 82

On Monday, June 4th, Arnold Olenick of Brookline, MA passed away from complications of cancer. He leaves his wife, Bernice, two sons, Steven and Philip, a granddaughter, Jean, and many friends. He was eighty-two years old and an active, generous member of many overlapping groups, including the Boston area's cabaret community.

Born in New York, Arnold served as a major in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II. He was a certified public accountant who taught at City College in New York until he moved to Boston in 1976. In 1988 he retired from teaching at the University of Massachusetts, where he was Chairman of the Department of Accounting. He did pro bono accounting for non-profit organizations as a member of Accountants for Public Interest, and wrote a number of books about financing non-profit organizations and small businesses.

Those of us who knew him primarily as a songwriter, will remember Arnold as a warm and generous, loving man who treasured the Great American Songbook. Sprite and energetic, he proudly shared his romantic "new standards" via his website (http://sites.netscape.net/aolenick/homepage). He released "Songs From My Trunk," an airplay quality compact disc containing sixteen of his songs, recorded by five professional singers backed by acoustic trio. His songs were showcased at the CAMBRIDGE CENTER FOR ADULT EDUCATION (56 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA - 617-547-6789 - Ext. 1 - http://www.ccae.org/) as part of the Cabaret Connection, and he was featured twice as "Artist of the Week" on the British website (http://www.uksounds.com/).

A memorial service is being held at noon on Sunday, June 10th at Stanetsky's Memorial Chapels, 1668 Beacon Street, in Brookline, MA. All who knew Arnold are welcome.

Wendy Kupferman

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