George Arola was born in a small farmhouse in Menahga, Minnesota, about 90 miles east of Fargo, North Dakota. When he was 11, his parents moved the family to Roseburg, Oregon, where he grew up in a large household as the third of seven children.
With a warm, engaging smile and deep blue eyes, Arola is the picture of health and good cheer. He can still fit into his Air Force uniform—a feat he attributes to a lifetime of healthy eating and exercise.
From an early age, Arola learned the value of hard work. At just 12, he began working summer and winter jobs, including helping a neighbor cultivate hundreds of rose plants each year. There he learned how to bud, dig and bundle roses for shipment—an experience that sparked his lifelong love of gardening.
Music was an important part of his childhood, and he credits both of his parents with inspiring his love of singing. In high school, a music teacher encouraged him to join a barbershop quartet, which they later named the “Four Flats.” He also performed in college and in the church choir. Arola fondly remembers his father sang well into his eighties.
His family also raised much of their own food. Living in Oregon meant strawberries and blueberries were plentiful, and Arola proudly calls himself a “strawberry connoisseur.”
Education and Family
Arola attended Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington. He met his wife, Karen, while sitting on the floor playing pinochle as he waited for the dining hall to open. Arola received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and took an IBM statistics course that would later influence his career path.
The couple married in 1964 and have been married for more than 61 years. They have two sons—Kyle, who lives in Newberry, Florida, and Travis, who lives in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Travis has two children, now in their twenties.
Career and Service
Arola enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after college and was soon accepted into officer training. Over a 26-year career, he served in a variety of technology and information systems roles, eventually retiring as a colonel in 1993.
His work placed him at the forefront of early networking technology. While stationed at the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C., Arola worked on military information technology networks, including the Advanced Research Project Agency, or ARPANET; part of the early development of what would eventually become the internet.
During his Air Force career, the family lived in many places, including Florida, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Ohio, Germany, England and Alaska. The frequent moves brought many adventures—from salmon fishing trips with his sons in Alaska to exploring Europe.
After retiring from the Air Force, Arola worked for 12 years as an information technology director at Gainesville Regional Utilities before retiring again in 2005.
Karen also enjoyed a long career, finishing her working years as the administrative assistant to the Director of Nursing at North Florida Regional Medical Center.
A Grandfather’s Pride
One of Arola’s proudest accomplishments came after his retirement. For many years, he homeschooled his grandson, Joshua, two days a week from kindergarten through fifth grade and one day a week through his sophomore year of high school. Joshua later graduated from Cornerstone Academy in Gainesville and received his Associate of Arts from Santa Fe College. Their granddaughter, Elianna, graduated from Buchholz High School.
Life at Oak Hammock
The Arolas chose Oak Hammock after watching their parents navigate difficult decisions later in life.
“We didn’t want to move from place to place searching for care,” Arola explains. “And we didn’t want to burden our children with decisions we were capable of making ourselves.”
They wanted to move while they were still healthy and able to fully enjoy the community. After researching many options, they felt confident they had found the best continuing care retirement community.
“We feel incredibly blessed to live here,” Arola said. For those considering Oak Hammock he offers simple advice:
“If you’re already a resident, you know you’ve made the best choice. If you’re still looking, keep comparing. You’ll eventually discover what we did—that Oak Hammock truly is the best.”
Staying Active and Involved
Arola believes retirement is a good time to stay engaged with the community. He spends much of his time volunteering through his church, Bridge City Community Church, mentoring high school students with Take Stock in Children, a program of the Alachua County Education Foundation, and traveling to visit family and friends. Arola is also active in the Oak Hammock Singers, soil composting and participates in other groups at Oak Hammock.
He previously served on the Board of Cornerstone Academy, the Oak Hammock Residents’ Council and the Grounds and Landscape Committee, helping shape the community he loves.
Hobbies and Passions
Gardening remains one of Arola’s favorite pastimes. At Oak Hammock, he and Karen grow vegetables and greens in their community garden plots—including plenty of Seminole pumpkin.
Arola also builds bamboo bee boxes to attract solitary bees, which are excellent pollinators. You may see bamboo hanging from the trees in his yard, which is how he straightens the bamboo before making the bee boxes.
Another passion is photography. Arola enjoys capturing close-up images of insects and wildlife in the woods around Oak Hammock. He often discovers his subjects simply by listening and paying close attention while exploring the woods. His goal is to publish a photography book titled Life at Oak Hammock on the Wild Side.
A Competitive Spirit
Arola admits there’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about him—he’s extremely competitive.
“I always want to know who did better than me,” he says with a laugh.
Over the years he has earned numerous trophies in volleyball and racquetball, including becoming racquetball champion while stationed in Germany.
Arola continues to embrace life and all it has to offer. As he often tells his friends, “you do what you can while you can, and then you die.”