Vincent J. Pentella, Sr., 94, peacefully left this world for heaven on May 24. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Rose, his son, Michael, and brothers, Sabatino and Mario. He is survived by his adored companion and best friend, Eleanor McKee; sons, Vincent, Richard (Maryann) and Marc; daughters, Karen and Cheryl; grandchildren, Cheresse, Tresa, Danielle (Matt Werthe), Alex (Alex Traxler), Michael, Nicole (Stillings), Nicolas, Ricky, Jacob (Santer) and Stephanie (Stillings); great granddaughter Harper Reese Werthe; and many nieces, nephews and friends. An eternal optimist, who was appreciative of all he was blessed with in his life, Vincent was born in Naples, Italy in 1919 and immigrated to the United States with his parents, Michael and Raphaella and older brother, Sabatino. The family settled in Canton, Ohio, a community that Vincent proudly called home throughout his life.

A military veteran of World War II, Vincent used his fluency in Italian and his intellect to run his Army unit's clerical and office support staff. A movie aficionado his entire life, he also ensured that the latest movies were shown to the troops and wrote reviews of more than 500 films. Up through his senior years, he could still identify every actor, producer, director and studio for every major motion picture from the 1930s to the 1980s. Vincent was a barber and, later, through the GI Bill became a registered accountant. He supported his large family and put all of his children through college by working days at his barbershop and nights in his home office doing taxes. He later became a stockbroker, an avocation he acquired in his 30s and passionately pursued until his death. The consummate entrepreneur, Vincent also bought and sold cars and provided mortgages to his friends and customers who could not obtain conventional loans. He was inducted into the U.S. Who's Who of Business in the 1990s. Join his family in celebrating his life at calling hours from 6 to 8 pm, Wednesday at Rossi Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon at Christ the Servant Catholic Parish at Our Lady of Peace, Msgr. Lewis F. Gaetano celebrant. Interment will be in North Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests donations in Vince's name to Fisher House Foundation in support of veterans and their families, http://www.fisherhouse.org .

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