Jesse John Lentini (1935–2025)

Jesse John Lentini, born Gesualdo Lentini on Hester Street in New York City, on January 12, 1935, passed away at the age of 90 on June 13, 2025. He was the second born to Maria and Biagio Lentini, immigrants from Sicily. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, he admirably embraced his duty to help support his beloved household with great pride. This responsibility cemented a life-long love for and dedication to family and created an incredibly bright, capable and loyal man.

A skier, scuba diver, fisherman, boater, and lover of animals, especially horses, Jesse delighted in being outdoors. Jesse loved to build, fix, refurbish and create with all the detail and precision one would expect from a skillful engineer, craftsman and general contractor. Whatever he endeavored to do, Jesse pursued his work and passions with a commitment to ethics and a steadfast standard of quality.  He enjoyed travel, art, design, a great meal, a good joke and collecting just about everything. A great storyteller with many adventures to share, he was not only great to listen to; he was also a good listener himself. A ruthless cheek-squeezer, he loved to show affection in this manner.

Jesse lovingly leaves behind his dedicated and dearly loved wife of 54 years, Eileen, who dotingly cared for him until the end, with the help of their daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Kevin Holtz of Fairfield, CT, and son and daughter-in-law, John and Joanna Lentini of Greenwood Lake, NY.  Fiercely proud and fond of his twin grandsons, Thomas Jesse and Michael John Holtz, they aspire to honor all that he embodied. Jesse has always valued time spent with family and lit up every time he was around his grandsons.

Grateful for the support his grandson, Michael, received from the Making Headway Foundation during Michael’s battle with brain cancer in 2005, and the wake thereafter, the family is pleased to honor Jesse with donations made in his name and thanks you for your generosity.