Roger Louis Gentile
Visitation :
John Quint Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Thursday October 23rd 2014 4-6 PM
1177 West Fifth Avenue
Columbus OH 43212
Services:
A Short Service with Story Telling
Thursday October 23rd 2014 at 6:00 pm
John Quint Treboni Funeral Home & Cremation Service
1177 W. 5th Avenue
Columbus
, Ohio 43212
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Obituary
Roger Louis Gentile passed away at home on Monday, October 13, 2014, at the age of 68. He is survived by his wife, Laura (Rhodebeck/Joseph); son and daughter-in-law, Brian Matthew and Mia (Falasca) Gentile; grandson, Roman Alfio; sister, Susan Gentile; brothers, Louis (Barbara) and brother Ralph "Chip" (Kathy); beloved nieces and nephews; and his cat Abra, all of Columbus, Ohio. He is predeceased by his parents, Ralph L. Gentile and Eleanor (Adams) Gentile; his son, Roger Christopher; and dogs, Jelly Bean and Mika, also of Columbus, Ohio. Roger was born on March 12, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio. He attended Saint Christopher's Parish, graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and then graduated from The Ohio State University. He began work in his father's store when he was eight years old; today that store is the sixty year old successful business in Grandview bearing his name, Gentiles, The Wine Sellers. Over the years, Roger has taught the vagaries of all things wine: starting in the agricultural department at the Ohio State University, working through the Arlington Creative Arts Program, and continuing with years of classes held in his own retail stores. He is the author of two books: The Basics of Wine, and Discovering Ohio Wines, and has led numerous trips to Napa and Sonoma, as well as Italy, Spain, and France. He was a loyal member and founder of the famous Columbus-based Swat Team which consists of a small number of select, top-secret wine geeks who get together to eat, drink, and support worthy causes. You can not say the name, Roger Gentile, without thinking about wine. Most importantly, Roger was a mentor to hundreds of people, young and old, and touched the lives of everyone he met. His extraordinary sense of humor, integrity, compassion, and positive energy made him beloved and a father to us all. Our hearts will ache for a very long time. Friends may call on Thursday, October 23, 2014 from 4-6 p.m., at THE JOHN QUINT TREBONI FUNERAL HOME, 1177 West Fifth Avenue, Columbus, with a short service and story telling from 6-7 p.m. Donations can be made in Roger's name to Pets Without Parents on Oakland Park in Columbus Ohio. In Vino Veritas
Condolences for Roger Louis Gentile
From :
To :
Date: October 16th 2014
From : Jerri Furniss
To : Laura Joseph
Date: October 16th 2014
Dear Laura, My heart is heavy. Despite my sadness I feel so lucky to have known Roger. He was a rare individual. Please know I am thinking of you and send lots of love your way.
Your Friend,
Jerri Furniss
From : Cheri Stearns(Old Heavenly Cup)
To : Laura
Date: October 16th 2014
Laura:
I just found out, my heart is heavy for you! You were blessed with such a sweet man! I have such sweet memories of Roger walking Mika in uptown Westerville stopping at the shop for treats! You are in my thoughts and prayers.
From : Tom Christ Aquinas class of 64
To : The Gentile Family
Date: October 17th 2014
I am so sorry for your loss
From : Claudine Eckhart
To : Brian and Mia
Date: October 17th 2014
I am so sorry to hear about your dad's passing and send my condolences. On Sunday we remembered your mother, Beanie, on the two year anniversary of her death and now your dad's passing just two years later. May he rest in peace.
From : Gemma McLuckie
To : Gentile Family
Date: October 17th 2014
I am so sorry to hear that Roger will no longer be at Gentiles. I met him in a writing class at Ohio State and remember his creativity. With Sympathy, Gemma McLuckie
From : Steve Yoder
To : The Gentile Family
Date: October 17th 2014
I was saddened to hear of Roger's passing. He was a special person! He was so helpful when Susan and I worked the wine list at The Top. My thoughts and prayers are with you; may he rest in peace.
From : Mike Cassady
To : The Gentile Family
Date: October 17th 2014
So sorry for your loss. I knew Roger from St Cris and Aquinas. He was a good person with a great laugh. May he rest in peace.
From : Pat Ahl
To : Laura
Date: October 17th 2014
Laura, I was shocked and saddened to hear of Roger's passing. He was a man who spread joy and laughter wherever he went and he made people happy. He will be truly missed! My heart and thoughts are with you.
From : Kathy Rosati
To : Laura
Date: October 17th 2014
Dear Laura~memories of walking into Cooker almost every Friday night for a long time to see Roger and you sitting at the bar with a glass of wine & dinner. His passing leaves such a void. Hold the good times close in your heart. Lean on your friends. Always, Kathy
From : Arnie Esterer
To : Laura and Family
Date: October 18th 2014
So sorry to hear . . . .Memories and working with Roger go back into the '70s and he did so much to help get a small winery started . . . .
With the very best wishes and prayers . . .
with His Blessing
Peace
~ arnie
From : sue ebright robeson
To : gentile family
Date: October 19th 2014
so sorry to hear about roger prayers are with you and your family
From : frances
To : The Gentile Family
Date: October 20th 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. But do know that many people like myself will have many fond memories of Roger and the many wonderful events he hosted and all that he taught us about wine.
From : Walt and Lois Reiner
To : Laura, Brian, Mia and Family
Date: October 21st 2014
Roger was an enthusiastic supporter of wine and very passionate about the business. Lois and I once briefly had the "Beer and Wine Beverage Center" at the corner of Kenny Road and Old Henderson Road. She learned to love wine. I spoke to Roger over the years and recall his efforts well. He and my next younger brother, Paul, were friends at Aquinas and later. Roger's good works will live after him. If we can help the family in their time of need, please do not hesitate to ask. Our deepest sympathy to the family. Walt Reiner, Aquinas 1961, Lois Reiner
From : Thomas Aquinas Burke , Class of 1963
To : To the Gentile Family
Date: October 22nd 2014
My sincere condolences to each of you. Roger's humor and care for others was evident at Aquinas College High School. Active in sports, he had a good word or a joke to say even in defeat. He enjoyed retailing and later was very proud of his family & wine store. May he rest peace. VERITAS.
From : Robert Kraft
To : The Family of Roger Gentile
Date: October 22nd 2014
I am deeply sorry for your loss and I send my love during this sad and emotionally draining time. With his directness, his unique knowledge, his love of people, and his love of wine, Roger Gentile brought beauty to the lives of many people. Personally, he took the time to teach me how to appreciate wine – a gift I will always be grateful for. For more than a quarter century, he taught me. He brought Italy and France and California home to Columbus. He is one of the great treasures of this city and I miss him.
From : Anne Scaperoth
To : Brian and Mia
Date: October 23rd 2014
Dear Brian and Mia,
I'm am truly sorry for the loss of your dad, Brian, and your father-in-law Mia. You've had a lot of loss in just a few years. I am thinking of you and sending care.
Anne Scaperoth
From : Ernie Epitropoulos
To : Laura
Date: October 23rd 2014
Laura, Our heartfelt condolences on your loss. Our family grieves with yours during this time. Thank for having our son Ryan work in your shop and getting to know Roger. May his memory be eternal!
From : Charlotte Yates
To : Laura
Date: October 27th 2014
Laura, I am sure you will not remember me without a difficult memory search but I and my late husband Allan met Roger through one of the intro to wine through CAP program so long ago in the mid 70's and I fondly remember many wine classes and tastings with Bob Fass , Roger, Mike and Patti Mandish . Of course I knew Beanie and I did meet you. I had not seen Rog for a long time and then I got in touch as I requested a favor of discount on sparkling grape juice for Mid-Ohio Workers Association , a labor assoc for low income services workers and Rog helped out for the last three years in July for our Anniversary Dinner with a donation of 24 bottles of the juice. We caught up of what was happening over the recent years with the loss of his son and the loss of my husband and I know you loved Roger for the unique individual that he was. He was very generous to me, an old friend. I am very happy the store will remain open and I hope to meet again. Let me know if you want to talk or get together as someone who shares your loss. Really. I am sincere. Charlotte Yates
From : Eileen Pruett & David Jump
To : The Gentile Family
Date: October 28th 2014
To the Gentile Family:
I knew Roger from the Continent Store and he selected a bottle of Port that we received for a wedding gift. He said the bottle might be ready for our 25th Anniversary—we’re probably going to wait until our 30th. (I think he recommended the Champagne for the reception as well.)
As others have noted, Roger introduced us to Muga. I remember several port tastings. After the first one he insisted we take a Taxi home. For one tasting our group rented a limousine and left with bottles of sparkling wine for the drive home.
We will miss Roger’s humor and his humoring our lack of knowledge and sophistication about the wines. We are truly sorry for your loss.
Eileen Pruett & David Jump,