Harry D. Pentore

Harry D. Pentore, of Kensington, devoted and loving husband to Doris (Zola) Pentore for 65 years, died Thursday (February 11, 2016) at home two months before his 90th birthday. Born in Kensington, son of the late John and the late Mary (Sartor) Pentore, Harry spent his entire life in service to the town of Berlin. The day after graduating from Berlin High School in 1944, he departed for basic training. As an MP with the US Army he served as a guard in Los Alamos, NM to the Manhattan Project and would later witness one of the first atomic explosions. Upon his return from service, Harry attended the University of Hartford. As owner of Towne Food Center in Kensington for 40 years, he was adored and respected by all whom he employed and those who frequented his beloved store. Harry always made sure that his customers were taken care of as though they were family; children of customers never left the store without a box of animal crackers and no area family in need never went without. Harry was a member of St. Paul's Church, the Connecticut Grocer's Association, the Italian Political Independent Club and Knights of Columbus. Until his passing, Harry was the longest continuous member of the Berlin Lions Club, joining in 1948. He was awarded as a Melvin Jones Fellow, and Knight of the Blind, and worked at the Berlin Fair where his presence at the South Gate will be sorely missed and never forgotten. Harry enjoyed spending time with friends and family, visiting Cape Cod and devoting every moment of his life to the service of others. Harry's caring and loving demeanor, happy smile and kindest touch were hallmarks of his character and readily apparent to all who knew him. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Janina Pentore of Kensington; a daughter and son-in-law, Leanne and David Carlson of Kensington; a sister, Elsie Dorau of Kensington; a sister-in-law, Vivian Bergstrom of Glastonbury; six adoring grandchildren, John Pentore and his wife Alyssa, Eric Pentore, Jaquelyn Pentore, Lindsay Paris and her husband Fred, William Carlson and his fiancé Leslie Stonebraker, and Mary Kate Carlson; three great-grandchildren, Jack Pentore, and Laura and Ellie Paris; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins including John and Rina Bigotto. Funeral services will be held Tuesday (February 16, 2016) at 9am from Porter's Funeral Home, 111 Chamberlain Highway in Berlin, with a funeral liturgy at 10am at St. Paul's Church. Burial with full military honors will follow in St. James Roman Catholic Cemetery in Manchester. Friends and relatives are invited to call at the funeral home on Monday (February 15, 2016) from 4-7pm. The Berlin Lions will meet for a service at 6:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul's Church, 467 Alling Street, Kensington, CT 06037, or to the Berlin Lions Club, P.O. Box 23, Kensington, CT 06037.