Luther mourns the passing of Rev. Dr. Oscar (Oz) Cole-Arnal

It is with great sadness that Martin Luther University College mourns the passing of Rev. Dr. Oscar (Oz) Cole-Arnal. He passed away peacefully on May 12, 2024 in his 83rd year after a courageous battle with prostate cancer and Parkinson’s Disease.  
 
Oz was a beloved mentor, teacher and colleague at (formerly) Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. He worked on the WLU campus from 1975-2006. He held two Bachelor’s Degrees in History and Theology, two Master’s Degrees in Biblical Studies and History and a PhD in History.
 
Oz was a vocal activist who was involved in various sociopolitical causes. He was active in trade union issues; grass-roots movements, both Christian and secular; involved in numerous national and provincial struggles against anti-people trade deals and was organizer of Interfaith Movement for Social Justice locally and Alliance Against Poverty. He also ran federally for the NDP. 

Oz will be fondly remembered and dearly missed for the ways in which he was a gifted teacher and the countless people he positively influenced in the church and his community. 

Oz's obituary and memorial service details can be found here, with donations to Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church and The Working Centre accepted in his memory.