Arvid John Dahlbloom, Jr., 67, a prominent businessman of Nashua and formerly of Auburn, NH, passed away at his home, Saturday morning, March 30, 2024 after a period of declining health.
Born in Nashua on December 21, 1956, he was the son of the late Arvid John and Josephine Christine (Wilson) Dahlbloom. Educated in local schools, Arvid was a graduate of Daniel Webster College in Nashua, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business.
Prior to his retirement, Arvid owned and operated a chain of successful, innovative pet stores in the New England area centered around his vision of creating an animal to people matchmaking service. His wife Robin shared this vision as they incorporated it in their stores.
Arvid’s lifelong dedication to animal welfare began at an early age when he organized neighborhood kids to rescue snapping turtles stranded in the middle of the road near Salmon Brook in Nashua. He raised tadpoles in a bathtub for the NH Fish hatchery. Every lost or stray dog or cat seemed to find their way to Arvid’s garage where they found shelter with a kind boy until their home could be located. In later years, Arvid and his wife Robin along with their children Arvid Jr. and Alayna rescued larger animals, reptiles and birds who had been abandoned. The neighbors all joined in as Arvid and his family chased runaway emus through back yards of Auburn and horses through fields on the family’s seven acre farm and brought them safely home.
Arvid carried his love of animals to young and old alike through community outreach efforts. It has been said of Arvid that he “never met a stranger” either in the animal or the human world. Forging connections between the two worlds sustained him and was his life’s mission. An early proponent of comfort animal companions for the elderly, Arvid brought animals to nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the Nashua area. Grateful residents looked forward to “Arvid’s Animal” visits which staff credited with lifting spirits in dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Educating the public about New England wildlife was a passion of Arvid’s. He visited schools and participated in events in New Hampshire and the Boston area often presenting with a wildlife conservationist on the value of the human and animal world connection. Arvid believed each could learn from the other. He matched a scarlet macaw to a member of an internationally renowned rock group with the same care he took pairing a kitten to his beloved niece and a springer spaniel to his devoted nephew.
Devotion to his family was the driving force in Arvid’s life. From the time his son Arvid Jr. was born until the night before Arvid died, his last words in the evening were, “I love you, Son.” His pride in all of his son’s accomplishments shone always in his bright blue eyes even as they dimmed. His granddaughter Ivy Ann was the light of his life and he took great joy in watching her evolve and grow in the short time they had together.
An active outdoorsman, Arvid was an avid fisherman, enjoyed riding motorcycles and gardening at his home. He coached a girls’ softball team, basketball teams and other sports both in Auburn and Nashua, sponsoring youth athletics as his Dad had before him.
Members of his family include his son and daughter-in-law, Arvid John Dahlbloom III and Maurine Dahlbloom and their daughter Ivy Ann Dahlbloom; his step-daughter, Alayna Peck and her daughters, Janessa and Serenity; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jo Dahlbloom and Talbott Miller; his niece and nephew, Marina Miller and Alex Miller; several cousins; and his aunt Donna Reay of Minnetonka, Minnesota with whom he shared a love of the outdoors and nature. Arvid is also survived by faithful family friends, Mr. and Mrs. Jean Levesque of Nashua, NH.
In addition to his parents, Arvid was also predeceased by his former wife, Robin L. Dahlbloom and his partner of twenty years, Susan B. Salisbury.
There are no calling hours. A Graveside Service will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Nashua Street in Milford, Saturday morning, April 13th at 11:00 AM. Friends are invited to attend. Donations may be made in his memory to Envisioning Access, 541 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02134 to support use of innovative technologies and capuchin service monkeys to help people with disabilities, formerly known as Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers. For additional information or to make an online donation in Arvid’s memory, please visit envisioningaccess.org. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.farwellfuneralservice.com Arrangements are in the care of the Farwell Funeral Service, 18 Lock Street, Nashua.
