Hats off to columnist Arnie Ropeik
By: Dr. Joan Ruddiman
Readers of the Times of Trenton know Arnie Ropeik as a former editor and a longtime Page 2 columnist. Arnie has a style all his own. For a newspaper guy, he is really a softie. He loves his wife, "Beloved Spouse," his now grown-up family (and grown-up grands), kids and dogs, his neighborhood and neighbors and fishing.
His column does more to attract positive attention to good causes than a news article, in part because he can and does get personal. Readers are touched by the back-stories, the connection with people who are doing good things for their families, schools and neighborhoods.
Over the years, Arnie has written several columns on my school kids. The first was decades ago when a quite amazing student named Lilac did an astonishing piece of research for the Resources Offered for Gifted and Talented Education (ROGATE) program. Several years ago, Arnie came to our school again to visit with a group of extraordinary problem-solvers who had captured several big honors in the Future Problem Solving program. Ironically, one of the students, Daphne, is the little sister of Lilac. Arnie remembered Lilac and her topic and was delighted to hear the rest-of-her-story from Daphne.
Fans of Arnie will be pleased to know that a selection of Arnie’s columns from the past 22 years have been gleaned and compiled into an anthology titled "Mosaic: Warmth, Wit and Wisdom form the Columns of Arnold Ropeik." It truly is a mosaic of the man’s life and of his passions.
Arnie shares the story of how the book came to be. Like most newspaper people, writing on deadline either daily or weekly allows little time for the reflection and work needed to produce a book. Therefore, after a life of writing, Arnie turned 80 with the goal to write a book unfulfilled.
At his 80th birthday party, Arnie confessed his desire to write a book. David, with backing from his siblings, suggested that Dad gather his favorite columns together and he would help in compiling them into an anthology.
Arnie and his wife Bertha have four accomplished children. The oldest, David, most closely followed in his dad’s footsteps. David Ropeik was an award-winning television journalist, mostly in the Boston area, before he became director of risk communication at Harvard’s Center for Risk analysis. He wrote "Risk! A Practical Guide for Deciding What’s Really Safe and What’s Really Dangerous in the World Around You" which was reviewed by Book Notes in 2003 and mentioned recently in conjunction with "Freakonomics."
Now, Arnie is no fool. He recognized that the kids saw a way to keep the old man going. Give him a project, dangle a goal in front of him and he would putter along for a while longer.
The task proved to be more daunting than any of them realized when they first set out on this adventure. First, what to choose? Arnie had penned more than 2,500 columns at that point. He still is writing so the total may well exceed 3,000 before he retires the typewriter. From this collection, he would need only about 100.
Then Arnie suffered a major hit to his longtime good health. The recovery was slow and extensive. When his brain finally cleared and he was back to somewhat normal, he had to re-learn to type.
David was the one who helped make good on the family’s intent. With his journalist’s skills, he helped Arnie with the compilation of the columns into a book.
He also, writes Arnie, was the one who revealed the title. David sought examples of how his dad "views things" and selected works that are "good examples of the warmth, wit and wisdom of your observances of life."
The effect, "both for newcomers and fans familiar with your work" is a compilation "intended to complete a mosaic that is heartwarming, thought-provoking, and fun to read."
Newcomers and fans will find just that. The book is organized into themes that are classic Arnie: his life in the Army, family and fishing, among other topics.
But those who have read Ropeik the reporter/editor over the last several decades will recognize his passion for Trenton and the surrounding community, as well as his insights on how the worldwide community can be affected by good and ill. Always for Arnie, the message encourages advocacy. He has spent a lifetime covering communities at home and around the world, advocating for the rights of all people as he touts the decency within all people.
He makes a compelling case for whatever cause he spotlights in the column, in large part because Arnie is known to be such a straight shooter. He calls it as he sees it, but you trust his view of the world knowing the integrity behind it.
What may the most poignant chapter is titled, simply "Journalism." In a sampling of columns from the 1980s, when it began, through several years into the 21st century, Arnie reflects on the role of journalism in his life ("a love affair") and the role of reporters ("An honorable title to hold").
For Arnie, there just is no room in journalism for the dishonest. One assumes he is a real "free market" type guy with the more news the better to keep the checks and balances in line.
In his time, Arnie has watched the impact of television news on newspapers. He now watches the impact of Internet news AOL-type pop-ups, on-line publications as well as the ubiquitous bloggers. Arnie, at over 80, is a 21st century man. His passion for newspaper work and his passion for the goodness of people goes on unabated regardless of the venue.
Arnie, here’s to you. I am thankful to number you as a longtime and dear friend.
Dr. Joan Ruddiman, Ed.D., is a teacher and friend of the Allentown Public Library.

