Six days short of his 82nd birthday, long-time dealer Ross Arnott, the owner of Bluenose Collectibles in Pointe-Claire, Qué., died on March 17.
Born in 1941, Arnott began as a teenager and eventually developed a lifelong interest in Roman coins. He opened a stamp and coin shop in 1964 before expanding over the decades to offer other collectibles, including records, sports cards and stuffed animals.
“Ross is leaving behind an incredible legacy,” reads an obituary published by his family. “He will be especially remembered for his smile, his big heart, his kindness and his love of life. He had a special gift of seeing the best in situations and always having a great time no matter what he was doing or where he was. Ross loved being around people. He had so many stories to tell of his adventures especially if they included finding ‘a good deal’ and you couldn’t help but share in his excitement.”
Well known in the Pointe-Claire area, about 15 kilometres from downtown Montréal, the shop has employed about half a dozen employees in recent years.
Former staff included Arnott’s late 60-year-old son Wayne, described in a recent Montréal Gazette report as “the smiling, energetic manager of the venerable Bluenose Collectibles shop,” who was murdered along with his partner Louise Boucher last October. Charged with two counts of second-degree murder, their 29-year-old son Mitchell underwent a psychiatric evaluation and remains in custody.
Arnott’s family will hold a visitation for the recently deceased dealer on April 13 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. (ET) and a day later from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., followed by a funeral service at noon, at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Home in Pointe-Claire. Instead of flowers, people can donate in Arnott’s memory to the Jewish General Hospital at secure.jghfoundation.org/goto/Ross_Arnott.