Cheryl Arnold

Cheryl Corinne Arnold : March 2, 1941 ''' June 21, 2012At about 10 pm, June 21, Cheryl died peacefully after a long struggle with cancer. Born to Eleanor and Arthur Arnold in Davenport, Iowa, she spent a very happy childhood in Davenport, Iowa, Duluth, Minnesota, St. Peter, Minnesota, and Rock Island, Illinois. From the start she was precocious, smart, gifted, and involved. After graduating from Rock Island High School (Valedictorian), she studied first at Augustana College and then Stanford University, where she studied Japanese and later English Literature, graduating in 1964. Following graduation she began to work at St. John'?s Lutheran Church in Oakland California where she distinguished herself working with children'?s groups, street gangs, the music of the church, and much more. Her group of young girls, The Wonderful Ones, learned to sew, cook, draw, communicate. It included field trips to Santa Cruz, local churches, overnights, creatively striving to help the girls learn coping skills for life. It was there that she met John Frykman, the pastor of St. John'?s, who, after being divorced by his first wife, became her husband. (12-22-68). Along the way she earned a Masters Degree in Educational Administration at San Jose State, a Teaching Credential at SF State, and finally a degree in music (organ performance). She taught small children in the Monterey Unified School District, and for four years taught the children of U.S. Air Force families at R.A.F. Alconbury, Huntingdon, England.Cheryl was a gifted musician, equally at ease on piano and pipe organ, and organizing and leading choirs. She was able to freely arrange music and master the most complicated works. She made it seem effortless. Among many others, she studied with Ludwig Altman of Temple Emmanuel, San Francisco, and Alexander Post at CSUSF. An active member in the America Guild of Organists, she worked to find a new home for the Exposition Organ , formerly at the Civic Auditorium. As Choir Director, Cheryl had a remarkable ability to inspire, coach, and transform musicians, and she was tireless in her devotion to them and the music they created together. John (Pastor) and Cheryl (Musician) served together at St. John'?s Lutheran, Oakland and First United Lutheran, San Francisco. She served as Music Director (choir director, playing for mass, working with children, cantors, etc.) at St. Stephen, St. Monica, and St. Elizabeth Catholic Churches, all in San Francisco. Her work as a teacher in Monterey, California and England, was way ahead of its time, and many of the methods she used were entirely unheard of at the time, but are now widely accepted best practices. A true visionary, she did the same wherever she worked, a truly remarkable person.Cheryl and her husband John shared a wonderful life of adventure and travel. Always partners and always together, they worked for one semester teaching at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute in what was then Madras, India (1988). Cheryl challenged local attitudes about women. Together she and John were able to create an environment that eventually led to the ordination of a woman in the Lutheran Church in India. In addition to India, they also lived and worked in England, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Bali and many other countries.A passionate and clear-voiced civic leader, Cheryl helped spearhead the Coalition to Save Ocean Beach, which successfully fought the development of Parcel 4 and saved it for open space, the last peace of ocean front land on Ocean Beach. The area formerly known as '''Parcel 4''?, now bears her creative stamp: it is now called Sutro Dunes. This is but one of Cheryl'?s civic activities.Cheryl is survived by her adoring husband, John Frykman of San Francisco, her sister and brother-in law Jacqueline Arnold Wood and David Wood of Chicago, IL, her brother and sister-in-law Kent Arnold and Jean Arnold of Eastham, MA, her loving (step) children Kristin Frykman of Alexandria VA, Lars Frykman of Sonoma CA, and Erik Frykman of San Mateo, CA, grandchildren Charlotte Miller of Alexandria VA and Kyle Frykman of Sonoma CA, and her devoted animals Brynn, Arthur and Pippi. We will all miss our bright star -- our laughing, beautiful Cheryl.A small eucharistic memorial service, led by Pastor Steve Sabin (with family and a few friends), was held at home on Sunday June 24. A Memorial Fund for the benefit of the music program is being established in her name at Christ Church Lutheran, 1090 Quintara Street (@ 20th Avenue) San Francisco, CA 94116-1268 and gifts to it are requested in lieu of flowers.Arrangements by Smart Cremation