James L. Arruda

James L. Arruda Surrounded by his family and loving friends, Jimmy Arruda lost his valiant battle with AIDS on April 1, 2002. Born in Fullerton, California, his family moved to Wareham, Massachusetts where he grew up and went to school. his parents were Phyllis Hathaway and Alvaro Ernesto (Rudy) Arruda who predeceased him. He celebrated his 50th birthday with many of his friends in January. Jimmy arrived in Maine in 1972 and worked as a seasonal cook in an Ogunquit restaurant. His foresight and hard work eventually lead to the creation of Arrow's Restaurant, which he opened in 1980 with his loving companion, Randy Robertson, who died in 1996. They sold Arrow's in 1985. His love of food and restaurants was exceeded only by the joy he derived from entertaining his many friends. He was an inveterate antiques collector and dealer with an amazing eye for the offbeat and soon-to-be-hot fashion. And he was an intrepid beach bum forever in search of the perfect combination of white sand and turquoise water. He was a water bug. He loved canoes and motor boats: anything that moved on the water so long as it didn't disturb the loons. The beautiful gardens that he created continue to bloom and are testament to his love for the outdoors and his sensitivity to the delicate balance between man and nature. He was a life-long Democrat and an ardent supporter of liberal causes and the underdog. His sister and brother-in-law, Tam and Ben Hatch and their family survive him as do the countless friends whose lives are better for knowing this gentle man. A private memorial service will be held in the spring. Contributions can be made to the York Hospice, York, ME. or AIDS Response Seacoast, Portsmouth, NH.