CHESHIRE Pomp Lentini, 97, of Moss Farms Road, died on Nov. 12, after a brief illness, in Cheshire. He was the widower of Elizabeth "Betty" (MacNeil), who died in 2009.
Vincenzo Pompeii di Rosario Lentini was born Aug. 24, 1916, in Waterbury, son of Sicilian immigrants Vincenzo and Antonina (Trombino) Lentini. He was a 1934 graduate of Wilby High School, receiving a college scholarship of which he was unable to avail himself due to finances.
During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was discharged after one month due to a heart condition.
In 1944, he opened American Rubber Stamp Co. on Grand Street, where he worked until 1972, when he moved operations to Freight Street due to urban renewal, and opened a wine making supply shop next door. He retired in 1986, and his son Vincent took over. He operated Cheshire Typewriter Shop in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He was a man of many interests, alternately rehabilitating the family's 1846 original Moss family home (a point of pride), raising farm animals, mastering the art of photography, acting in local theater, becoming an award-winning winemaker with his own Chateau Lentini label, riding motorcycles, learning to embroider and working with computers. Many articles about him have been written in the Waterbury, New Haven and Meriden newspapers. His photographs have been displayed at the Cheshire Public Library.
He leaves behind three sons, Vincent and his fiance, Margarita Rios, of Cheshire; Pomp of Waterbury, and Barth and wife Sandy of Cheshire; two daughters, Nina and her husband, Richard Norman, of Norwich; and Marianne Lentini-Bernarduci and her husband, Kent, of Boynton Beach, Fla., grandchildren Bryan (and wife Kristin) Lentini of Cheshire, Beth Lentini and her husband, Mark Scott of Niantic, Rosemary Norman of Charleston, S.C., Bridget Norman of Boston and, Felicia and Alyssa Lentini of Cheshire; a great-granddaughter, Ashley Lentini and great-grandsons, Tyler and Andrew Lentini, all of Cheshire. He was predeceased by two daughters, Rosemary and Betsy; his brother, Barth, and sisters, Mary Graziosa and Rosemary Giacin. He leaves many nieces and nephews, mostly in New England.
Arrangements - Funeral services will be held on Saturday November 16, 2013 at 10 am at the Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main St. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family in St. Bridget Cemetery. Friends will be received at the funeral home on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the start of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospital for Special Care, 2150 Corbin Ave, New Britain, CT 06053.