Obituary for Arnold Vitarbo
ARNOLD VITARBO 86 years young, passed away on September 14, 2022 with his wife of 66
years, Fujie by his side. Born on January 31, 1936 in the Bronx, New York to Vito and Elizabeth
(Voswinkle) Vitarbo, he was the youngest brother to Dewey, Rocco and Delores. All preceded him in
death and are having a great family reunion now.
A lifelong Yankee fan but never a city boy, he was often found escaping the city with his cousin
Richard (Dickey) to hunt and fish. Both escaped as soon as possible and joined the military. My father
joined the Marines at 17 and never spent another night in the city. After 10 years in the Marines he was
recruited by the Air Force for another 10 years as a Weapons Specialist and Shooting Instructor in both
branches. He was also involved in the Sniper Program while in the Marine Corps.
Although he was never one to boast about his accomplishments, he was very accomplished. He
was on several USA shooting teams for the World Championships and Pan American Games (gold in
1967) and took 4th as a member of the 1968 USA Olympic Pistol Team in Mexico City. From 1991 to
1994 he was the National Shooting Coach and coached the 1992 Olympic Team in Barcelona, Spain.
He was certified as an Advanced Instructor by USAS/NRA (also certified referee and member of the
Coach Development Staff) and was a Master Instructor for the CMP in both rifle and pistol. He
conducted shooting camps, clinics and matches for these organizations in many parts of the United
States, Puerto Rico and Mexico. He coached the University of Utah Pistol Team and oversaw the Utah
Summer Games shooting events.
Retiring after 20 years in the military, he decided to go to college and graduated from the
University of Hawaii with a degree in Japanese. Arnold worked as a Volkswagen mechanic, taught
Japanese courses at the Oregon Institute of Technology, and began his own successful company making
custom gun grips.
He always loved planes and flying and built model planes since he was a boy. The planes got
larger until he was making quarter sized scale radio controlled planes. He even got his pilot license but
stopped flying due to health issues.
Arnold was born and raised a Catholic but was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints by a fellow shooting instructor. Always a history buff, he became interested when he
talked about the pioneers and genealogy. Our family was taught the gospel by 2 sister missionaries and
then baptized and a year later sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Arnold served in many church
callings, including serving as a Seventy. He served as a temple worker in various temples with Fujie by
his side. Genealogy always interested him and he has traced our family back as far as he could; being
stopped by ancestors that were adopted. He served a full time couple mission at the church's Family
History Library in Salt Lake City. Being fluent in both Japanese and Italian, he was able to assist many
visitors with their searches. He and Fujie continued to spend hours daily translating church materials
into Italian and Japanese until just a few months before his death.
He is survived by his wife Fujie, daughter Laura (Kevin) Howell, and son Donald (Sharon)
Vitarbo as well as 3 granddaughters (Shannon, Shawna (Guy) and Danielle), 2 step grandsons (Tyson
and Travis) 4 great grandchildren (Lucas, Lana, Emmerson and TraZiais) and numerous other beloved
family members.
Funeral services will be held at 3 pm on Friday September 30, 2022 in the LDS chapel (1390 E
Midvalley Rd in Enoch). Services will be streamed at
https://zoom.us/j/96627236546?pwd=cTlhaWtoTm1veWhLV052amlXSXM3QT09
years, Fujie by his side. Born on January 31, 1936 in the Bronx, New York to Vito and Elizabeth
(Voswinkle) Vitarbo, he was the youngest brother to Dewey, Rocco and Delores. All preceded him in
death and are having a great family reunion now.
A lifelong Yankee fan but never a city boy, he was often found escaping the city with his cousin
Richard (Dickey) to hunt and fish. Both escaped as soon as possible and joined the military. My father
joined the Marines at 17 and never spent another night in the city. After 10 years in the Marines he was
recruited by the Air Force for another 10 years as a Weapons Specialist and Shooting Instructor in both
branches. He was also involved in the Sniper Program while in the Marine Corps.
Although he was never one to boast about his accomplishments, he was very accomplished. He
was on several USA shooting teams for the World Championships and Pan American Games (gold in
1967) and took 4th as a member of the 1968 USA Olympic Pistol Team in Mexico City. From 1991 to
1994 he was the National Shooting Coach and coached the 1992 Olympic Team in Barcelona, Spain.
He was certified as an Advanced Instructor by USAS/NRA (also certified referee and member of the
Coach Development Staff) and was a Master Instructor for the CMP in both rifle and pistol. He
conducted shooting camps, clinics and matches for these organizations in many parts of the United
States, Puerto Rico and Mexico. He coached the University of Utah Pistol Team and oversaw the Utah
Summer Games shooting events.
Retiring after 20 years in the military, he decided to go to college and graduated from the
University of Hawaii with a degree in Japanese. Arnold worked as a Volkswagen mechanic, taught
Japanese courses at the Oregon Institute of Technology, and began his own successful company making
custom gun grips.
He always loved planes and flying and built model planes since he was a boy. The planes got
larger until he was making quarter sized scale radio controlled planes. He even got his pilot license but
stopped flying due to health issues.
Arnold was born and raised a Catholic but was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints by a fellow shooting instructor. Always a history buff, he became interested when he
talked about the pioneers and genealogy. Our family was taught the gospel by 2 sister missionaries and
then baptized and a year later sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Arnold served in many church
callings, including serving as a Seventy. He served as a temple worker in various temples with Fujie by
his side. Genealogy always interested him and he has traced our family back as far as he could; being
stopped by ancestors that were adopted. He served a full time couple mission at the church's Family
History Library in Salt Lake City. Being fluent in both Japanese and Italian, he was able to assist many
visitors with their searches. He and Fujie continued to spend hours daily translating church materials
into Italian and Japanese until just a few months before his death.
He is survived by his wife Fujie, daughter Laura (Kevin) Howell, and son Donald (Sharon)
Vitarbo as well as 3 granddaughters (Shannon, Shawna (Guy) and Danielle), 2 step grandsons (Tyson
and Travis) 4 great grandchildren (Lucas, Lana, Emmerson and TraZiais) and numerous other beloved
family members.
Funeral services will be held at 3 pm on Friday September 30, 2022 in the LDS chapel (1390 E
Midvalley Rd in Enoch). Services will be streamed at
https://zoom.us/j/96627236546?pwd=cTlhaWtoTm1veWhLV052amlXSXM3QT09