Obituary of Alarik A. Rosenlund

'Rik' Rosenlund passed away at his Aptos home surrounded by his loved ones after a quick illness. He was preceded in death by his parents' Arthur O. Rosenlund, Helen Rosenlund, brothers David and Tim Rosenlund. Rik is survived by his beloved wife and companion of 48 years, Isabelle; sisters Hope and Mother Dorcas Rosenlund; children April Rosenlund Ford, Alarik Jr., Derek and Kyle Rosenlund, son in law Chris Ford and daughters in law, Geri West and Susan Rosenlund, and grandchildren Elisa, Connor, Malia Rosenlund, Anthony Ford, and mother of his first three children, Josephine Tracy. Rik was born in Philadelphia, PA, a grandson of Swedish immigrants, and grew up at the family "farm"in Fairview Village, PA where he acquired his love of nature and the outdoors. It was during his youth that he worked side by side with his father Arthur, picking up his work ethics and learning the value of hard work. He went to college at Hampden Sydney College in Virginia where he developed a lifelong love of bluegrass music. He then joined the US Marines and served in the Korean War as a radio operator. Rik worked in the insurance industry for years, first at Germantown Insurance Co. in Philadelphia and later in California. In 1964 the spell of the Big Sur Coast and California drove Rik and his young family from Blue Bell, PA to the Bay Area where he set up their home. In 1967, he created a new life for himself and his children by traveling throughout Europe for a year and a half. While staying in Paris, he met a young French woman, Isabelle, who became his lifelong partner. Together they developed a successful leather craft business supplying top boutiques in Paris and the Riviera. Upon their return to the US in 1973, they settled in Aptos as property managers of the Pot Belly Beach Home Association. In 1985, he started a new chapter in his life by welcoming his son Kyle who brought a sense of renewal to his middle years. He loved French lunches with friends on the deck of his beautiful home, a good glass of wine or perhaps a Manhattan (rye only please), a latte with two raw sugars at Starbucks, Thursday dinners with the guys, a good game of horseshoes, collecting "treasures" from garage sales, riding vintage BMW motorcycles, and watching football. He continued with his passion of traveling throughout his life, revisiting Europe and Korea and traveling extensively through Asia. He enjoyed meeting new friends and challenging them with his strong opinions of politics, economics and culture. He was proudest of his children and family and every year on his birthday he would gather around him a large portion of the Rosenlund clan for a three day work party and celebration. Rik was not a friend of new technology, preferring to connect with people face to face or through a handwritten note. It is these personal connections that endeared him to all who knew him. He lived a rich and full life and leaves us with so many fond memories. A memorial celebration of his life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to his favorite charity- Smile Train at smiletrain.org.