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.

Always a curious learner and gifted with talented “hands of gold,” Jesse attended Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, NY. He later graduated from the esteemed City College of New York with a coveted degree of Bachelor of Electrical Engineering in 1958.

In 1970, he married Eileen Harrison, a Brooklyn girl herself, after a chance meeting on Election Day in 1968. Their courtship would blossom while Eileen traveled during her summers off as a teacher to visit with Jesse in Torino and Ivrea, where he was stationed for work with Olivetti. They traveled extensively and this would inspire many future vacations, choosing to raise their family in Douglas Manor, NY. Here, he enjoyed time spent with friends and chaired events at the Douglaston Club.

A skier, scuba diver, fisherman, boater and lover of animals, especially horses, Jesse delighted in being outdoors and spending time in Greenwood Lake, NY. He loved to build, fix, refurbish and create with all the detail and precision one would expect from a skillful engineer, craftsman and general contractor. His legacy and appreciation for detail are witnessed in the homes he helped create. Whatever he endeavored to do, whether as an engineer in product development, creating patents with top secret clearance or time later spent in commercial financing, Jesse pursued his work and passions with a commitment to ethics and a steadfast standard of quality. He enjoyed 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 was preceded in death by his parents, his older sister, Concetta, and his younger brother, Joseph and is survived by his brothers, William and Sebastian, and dear sister, Jennie.

Jesse will be interred at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale, NY. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Making Headway Foundation of Chappaqua, NY.

Via mail:

Making Headway Foundation
115 King Street
Chappaqua, NY 10514

Via online:(Click below)

In Memory of Jesse John Lentini