Joseph Alexander Gentilucci

 )Joseph “Joe” Alexander Gentilucci, (Giuseppe Alexander Gentilucci), 93, of Aiken, SC entered eternal rest on Saturday, August 2, 2025, in Aiken SC.

Son of the late Augustino and Mary (Bengivengo) Gentilucci, second of five children, Joe was born on January 21, 1932, in Newark, NJ and grew up in Paterson, NJ.

Joe had three main priorities in life: Faith, Family, Career. Joe began his work experience early, delivery papers. He kept busy while attending East Patterson High School working several jobs, serving first as co-captain and then captain of the football team, and enjoying both school and church dances all while he and his classmates found support in each other. With the support of his coach he secured a football scholarship to Lafayette College. After an injury-prohibited football he was awarded an academic scholarship that he supplemented by working numerous jobs to include tutoring, residents hall assistant, college kitchen manager, and busing tables for meals. To assure his classmates succeeded, he established and led a free tutoring class and as an engineering intern solved a complex issue for which the company was struggling. Upon graduating with honors in Chemical Engineering from Lafayette in 1953 he was offered a scholarship to further his studies, however his father passed during his college years and to assist in supporting his family, he chose to enter the work force, accepting a job at DuPont in Niagara Falls, NY where he was much regarded by co-workers and support staff alike. As a motivational tool he established a ‘Red Sock award’ (his favorite fashion attire through life) that was valued by all who were bestowed the honor. He was passionate about chemical engineering and a dedicated employee, having three patents credited to his name. Joe went on to work for DuPont in Orange, TX and Aiken SC and for Inland Chemical in Fort Wayne, IN. In Aiken he was fundamental in the design, construction, and operation of the waste management plant, supervising many engineers. As the contract at SRP transferred hands, he retired from DuPont and joined Westinghouse until retiring in 2004 and entering the world of private consulting which he continued into his late 70’s. Reading chemical engineering journals and discussing the latest developments continued for life!

Joe met his wife (Annette) while both worked at DuPont in Niagara Falls, NY. They married in 1958 after which he ventured to teach her to drive. Following the birth of their first two children they moved from Niagara to Lewiston where they welcomed their third child. There, numerous memories were cataloged from putting in a driveway, “swimming” in a tiny pool, grinding coffee at the local A&P, going apple and cherry picking, carving pumpkins, building snowmen, teaching ice skating on a “bumpy” pond, family trips to the drive-in, building stilts for the Boy Scout Troop, teaching the art of bicycling, experiencing the opening of the first Niagara Falls McDonalds, attending local fairs, visiting his mother in Paterson, and welcoming visitors from abroad. He also found time to be active in the Lyon’s Club, play bridge, and go to dinner dances. As the family moved to Texas, then Indiana, and finally South Carolina he continued to always support the ever increasing diverse family activities: various sporting events to include early sleep depriving swim meets, plays, recitals, pom-pom squad performances, concerts, cake decorating, candle making, drawing classes, etc. Whether early morning or late night, Joe always made sure his children made all their practices and events, even disregarding comfort by sitting on an ice arena while attending a Junior Achievement award ceremony and watching a cross-country meet in the rain. Still there was time for friends, visits from his mother, and never ending commitment and support of his wife.

As his children aged and became more self-sufficient he continued active in the community, church, and with the next generation. He designed and constructed hook rugs for each child’s high school and college and donated rugs for school raffles. He designed and completed cross-stitch patterns, participated in grandparent’s day, job fairs and the Chocolate Festival at St. Mary School, visited family in St Croix, and discovered a love for travel and cruises. He was a fixture at Sheppard Blood Center earning multiple “Gallon” T-shirts, wearing them proudly!

As a Roman Catholic, Joe was raised with a strong faith that carried him through life. He served as an altar boy, a tradition that both sons followed, and had a special affinity for St Jude. Active in the church, he served as a lector and together with his wife as a Eucharistic minister serving communion at mass and to the homebound. He and his wife supported the church and school in many ways throughout years, from refurbishment of Historic St. Mary Church, construction and outfitting of the new church, and supporting the school’s new STEM Center. His faith was an integral part of him and an example to many.

Joe was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 61 years, Susan “Annette” Gentilucci, son Augustine Joseph Gentilucci, and grandson Christian Joseph Griffith.

He is survived by: two children, Anne Marie Gentilucci Griffith (M. Anderson), Aiken, SC; Joseph Daniel Gentilucci, Lampertswalde, Germany; daughter-in-law Barbara H. Gentilucci, Houston, TX; 5 grandchildren, Todd (Corinne) and Aaron (Carly) Gentilucci, Sarah (Damyan) Dimitrov, Zachary and Hannah Griffith; 4 great-grandchildren, William, Camden and Lucca Gentilucci, Croix Dimitrov; sister, Gisella ‘Jay’ Gentilucci Sisti; brother, Theodore ‘Ted’ Gentilucci (Mary Ann); sister-in-law Michele Gentilucci.

The family will receive friends Friday, August 15th; 6 to 8 PM at Shellhouse Rivers Funeral Home, 715 East Pine Log Road, Aiken, SC; prayer service @ 6:30 PM. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 2 pm Saturday, August 16th in the Historic Saint Mary Help of Christians Church, 203 Park Avenue SE, Aiken SC with Fr. Michael Ghattas as Celebrant. Final commendation and farewell prayers will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to, “STOCK THE STEM CENTER” ( https://www.stmaryschoolaiken.com/support-sms/ )

Note: In Memory of Joseph A. Gentilucci, St Mary’s Help of Christians School, 118 York St. SE, Aiken SC, 29801.

SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC