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Dr. Lentini Obituary

Dr. Lentini Obituary

Nicholas Lentini, M.D., F.I.C.S., of West Palm Beach, Florida, and former physician/surgeon in Cheboygan, Michigan died on May 24 at the age of 97. Dr. Lentini was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 14, 1912. At an early age his family moved to Bliss, Michigan where his Sicilian-born parents Salvatore and Caterina (Provenzano) established a modest farm. Dr. Lentini attended a one-room school in Levering before graduating from Petoskey High school. Dr. Lentini attended the University of Michigan where he received his undergraduate degree and, in 1939, his medical degree. Dr. Lentini remained a true-blue fan of the University of Michigan and was always thankful for the many advantages that his university education provided him.

Dr. Lentini established his medical practice in Cheboygan in 1941. The following year he joined the United States Army Medical Corps and remained in service to his country throughout World War II. While stationed in California Dr. Lentini married Margaret Anthony of Detroit in 1943. Captain Lentini served in several European campaigns throughout the war in Gen. Patton’s 6th Armored Division and was decorated with five battle stars and the bronze star in June 1945. In 1943 he was commended by his commanding general for saving the lives of several workmen who were trapped in a gas-contaminated train tunnel.

After the war, Dr. and Mrs. Lentini returned to Cheboygan they raised six children and remained until his retirement in 1978 when he moved to southern Florida. Over the years Dr. Lentini successfully grew his private practice, served for many years as Chief-of-Staff for Community Memorial Hospital in Cheboygan and provided voluntary support as the Executive Chairman of the American Cancer Society, President of the Cheboygan County Heart Unit, and the University of Michigan Alumni Association.

Along with his wife Margaret, Dr. Lentini was an avid tennis player and enjoyed raising and riding horses. They were members of St. Charles Catholic Church in Cheboygan. From his early days on the farm in Bliss, Dr. Lentini retained a life-long love in agriculture and in 1954 established Sno-Kist Tree Corporation which became one of northern Michigan’s largest Christmas tree operations shipping orders from coast to coast. In his retirement Dr. Lentini loved spending time researching, planting and cultivating rare fruit trees on his Florida properties.

Dr. Lentini is survived by Margaret, his wife of 67 years, sons Richard, Larry, Jerome and Wayne (Tammy) of West Palm Beach, and daughters Kathryn (Thomas) Rautio of Sault Ste. Marie and Valerie (Phil) Porter of Cheboygan and Mackinac Island; fifteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The funeral Mass of the Resurrection for Dr. Lentini took place at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Palm Beach on May 27 and his remains will be buried at the military veteran’s South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, FL.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice. On line donations can be sent to: www.hospicenet.org/html/donations.html

Or by mail: Hospice, 401 Bowling Avenue, Suite 51, Nashville, TN 37205.

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