Respects paid to ‘Navy man’

NEWPORT BEACH — When Renée Arst was a few years old, her father, Phil Arst, would take her to the beach sometimes and walk her around on his shoulders. From her point of view, the world looked like an enchanting place.

Phil Arst no longer towered over his daughter physically as she grew older, but she remained in awe of him in different ways. She watched her father become one of the most dedicated community activists in Newport Beach. She enjoyed his adventurous spirit as he traveled the world and brought his family with him. And she saw his mettle late in life when he battled illness, underwent a liver transplant and still kept working hard.

Saturday, Renée was one of many family members and friends who packed the multipurpose room at the Oasis Senior Center for a memorial service for her father, who died earlier this month at 79. As she regarded the nearly 100 people who came, she recalled how her father expressed joy at seeing his family gathered for dinner or a vacation.

“He probably has that same feeling up there that I did on his shoulders — peaceful and happy,” she told the audience.

Phil Arst, as at least one speaker noted in his remarks, didn’t always make friends during his time in Newport Beach. As one of the architects of the Greenlight initiative — which gave voters more power in deciding the outcome of city projects, and an advocate for residents who wanted Newport to retain its small-town character — Arst often butted heads with City Council members and other officials.

However, even some who had fallen out with him in the past attended to show their respects, saying that while they didn’t always share his views, they admired his courage and dedication.

“We didn’t agree on a lot of issues, but where we did agree, Phil was always quick to find and acknowledge common ground,” said City Councilman Keith Curry.

“I always respected him for that.”

The service began at 4 p.m. with a presentation of colors by a pair of naval officers, who presented the flag to Arst’s widow, Margareth Arst. Several members of Arst’s naval graduating class, who had kept in touch with him over the years at reunions, attended as well. Arst’s other daughter, Denise Ruffner, mentioned her father’s love of the Navy before showing a slide montage of his life.

“He was always proud to be a Navy man,” she said. “The last couple months of his life, when we took him out in the sun and he had to wear a hat, it always had to be a Navy hat.”

Many of the speakers came from groups that Arst had worked with over the years.

Jan Vandersloot, a member of the Greenlight residents’ group, urged his colleagues to continue to fight for Arst’s principles.

“I hope that we will keep Greenlight alive and that we will continue to honor the legacy of Phil,” he said. “Phil was a true warrior.”

REMEMBERING ARST

“We didn’t agree on a lot of issues, but where we did agree, Phil was always quick to find and acknowledge common ground. I always respected him for that.”

Keith Curry

“He was a very good man. A very good officer.”

Retired Rear Admiral, United States Navy

“Phil was the ideal Rotarian. He was always available in every way, in every capacity.”

Bailey Smith

“Phil had a passionate persistence about him. He was a quiet gentleman, but he had a strong sense of what he wanted to accomplish.”

Arnold Blaine

Longtime Rotary Club colleague

“You couldn’t disagree with his motives, because his motives were never selfish. They were always for the general good.”

Barry Allen

“He taught me, and taught a lot of other people, that giving is more important than taking.”

Phil Drachman

Greenlight member

“I hope that we will keep Greenlight alive and that we will continue to honor the legacy of Phil. Phil was a true warrior.”

Jan Vandersloot

Greenlight member

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.