Arthur G. Lilienthal, Jr. ’74

Arthur G. Lilienthal, Jr. January 6, 2023 Arthur G. Lilienthal Jr, 70, of Baldwinsville, NY passed away in his home surrounded by his family early Friday morning. The Man, The Myth, The Legend. He kicked the crap out of cancer for 23 years, battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia since 1999. Art was born in Rockland, Maine but spent his youth growing up in Bayshore, Long Island and Thomaston, Maine. Upon graduating from Georges Valley High School in Thomaston, he attended Maine Maritime Academy and started his career as a merchant marine officer. In 1979, Art met the love of his life, Catherine M. Lilienthal, in a parking lot of the apartment building they shared and were married in 1981. With a strong urge from Cathy to get off the container ships and spend more time on land, Art began the next chapter of his career as an engineer in the nuclear power generation industry, helping to commission several nuclear power plants in Connecticut, Tennessee, Texas, and finally Oswego, New York. The couple settled in Baldwinsville in 1989 where they raised their three sons and would go on to have lasting impacts on everyone they encountered.
To know Art was to know true courage and compassion, even when faced with some of life’s most difficult challenges. He lost his wife to her own battle with leukemia in 2011, but he never lost his positive outlook on life, his passion for creating masterpiece stained-glass lampshades, or his dry, witty sense of humor. Art was always ready with a quick joke (“did you hear about the constipated jitter bug “), great advice (“ya know, retirement doesn’t suck!”), or a reminder to stay positive, even against all odds (“cancer isn’t all it is cracked up to be…”). To quote his good friend Bill, “nobody, and I mean nobody wrote a better annual Christmas letter than Art.” Each year, he would recap the family events and happenings, with jokes and advice scattered throughout. The letters, in addition to his stained-glass work, will be remembered by all who had the fortune to experience them. For the last 12 years of his life, Art took great pride in becoming a grandfather and watching his own three sons become fathers of their own.
Art is predeceased by his beloved wife of 30 years, Catherine (Morrison) Lilienthal, his brother, Stephen Lilienthal, and his parents Arthur Sr and Beverly (Kirkpatrick) Lilienthal. Surviving to carry on his love and good nature are his sons; Thomas (Nicole) Lilienthal, Arthur (Kaitie) Lilienthal III, and Michael (Brittany) Lilienthal, 6 grandchildren; Jack, Ava, Arthur IV, Gwen, Brooks, and Ainsley, 2 sisters; Tracey Thompson and Cheryl (Curt) Carleen, and several nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Maurer Funeral Home Moyers Corners, 3541 State Route 31, Baldwinsville, NY 13027 followed by a 2:00 pm funeral service. A private burial will take place at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery in Baldwinsville alongside his wife at a time and date to be determined.
As he would close every Christmas letter each year – “a sense of humor is priceless, listen to good music and remember what the music meant to you at the time, count your blessings every day, smile, and be kind and generous to your fellow man.” A horse walks into a bar… Please sign the funeral home on-line guest book for Arthur to express your condolences to his family.