Hundreds remember Ben Arnet, beloved sports director, at celebration of life

Ben Arnet was memorialized Wednesday during a celebration of his life as a father, husband, friend, mentor and sports broadcaster who loved his job, believed in helping others and was devoted to his family.

“I’d say Ben’s the type of guy that would go the extra mile for you,” said Chris Gervino, a former sports reporter and former KOMU 8 sports director who mentored Arnet.

“But that’s not true. He’d go the extra hundreds of miles for you,” he added.

About 300 people gathered Wednesday morning in the Walsworth Family Columns Club at Memorial Stadium to honor Arnet, who was the sports director at KOMU 8. Arnet died on Aug. 28. He was 43.

A stage was decorated with gifts of floral arrangements, including some sporting black-and-gold ribbons, in true Tiger fashion. As guests filed into their seats and caught up with one another, they hugged Nicole and Lyla Arnet, Ben Arnet’s wife and daughter.

Before the service, a slideshow in the room rotated through photos of Arnet with his wife, daughter, family and friends. One showed his daughter, Lyla, 10, with her father courtside at a University of Missouri basketball game. Another showed him proudly holding her up as a newborn in the hospital. Some were selfies of the pair wearing matching grins in their season ticket seats at St. Louis Blues hockey games.

“Lyla is the pride and joy of Ben’s life, without a doubt,” Gervino said about Arnet’s daughter.

A tribute video put together by KOMU 8 news anchor Taylor Freeman and news director Jeimmie Nevalga played to begin the service. The video showed clips of Arnet’s coverage of high school and college sports, including sideline interviews, “Friday Night Fever” segments and his sign-ons and sign-offs.

Following the video, Ben’s older brother, Matt, took the stage to share childhood memories. Matt’s daughter Lexi, 7, joined him at the podium.

He recalled being surprised when his brother got involved with the Hickman Kewpie TV station in high school.

“He was great at it immediately,” Matt Arnet said. “He really found his passion and developed that into something that’s impacted so many people here.”

He admired his brother for his resilience, work ethic and ability to face challenges.

“My brother did lots of hard things in his life, and that’s kind of become a mantra in our family,” he said. “Lexi even has a T-shirt that says, ‘I can do hard things.’ So we’re gonna do a hard thing together. All of us.”

“We’re going to grieve and find a way to move forward. We’re gonna be OK, but not today. We’re going to experience joy,” he said, his voice breaking, “even if it’s tinted with sadness. I love you and miss you, Ben.”

Lexi then stepped closer to the podium and set down a pink notebook as her father wiped his tears and moved the microphone down to reach her.

“Uncle Ben was a great person,” she said. “I miss him so much. He always had a place in my heart … He was such a kind-hearted person. Some of my favorite things about him — his smile, his love, his kindness and his personality.”

Arnet’s kindness was especially evident to students like Kayler Smith, a 2022 Missouri School of Journalism graduate and current reporter in Dayton, Ohio.

“There was no one I was more excited to tell about landing my first job after graduation,” she said from the podium. “No one knew my ability or my worth as a journalist better than Ben.”

“I quite literally would not be where I am today without him. I hope to spend the rest of my career doing what he taught me and doing it in his honor,” she added.

Dave Matter, associate athletic director of strategic communications, gave the opening and closing remarks at the service.

“Your son, your husband and your dad loved this town,” Matter said. “Now it’s our job to share that love right back. Thank you for being here today to honor and remember, Ben, a true son of Mizzou and of Columbia, Missouri.”