Thaddeus Lucentini ’29, an ROTC officer cadet and student in the College of Arts and Sciences, died in his home in Shelbourne Falls, Massachusetts on Oct. 13. Lucentini, who was known as ‘Thad’ by his family and friends, is remembered for his curiosity and palpable happiness.
“He was a very sociable kid. He loved to make friends,” Eric Lucentini, Lucentini’s father said in an interview with The Sun.
He was a loving son to his parents, Eric and Sandra Lucentini, who “were so happy to have him home that weekend,” recalling the University's fall break, and the weekend Lucentini died at home.
Lucentini was accepted to Cornell on a 4-year ROTC scholarship. Lucentini was intending to major in history. While at Cornell, he was taking courses on the history of Iran, as well as Arabic with his roommate, Ezekiel Ehrenberg ’29, according to his parents, Eric and Sandra Lucentini.
Ehrenberg told the Sun that he organized a vigil in honor of Lucentini in the weeks following his death.
“He had a different level of intelligence about him that I think a lot of people, especially myself were drawn to,” Ehrenberg said in an interview with The Sun.
Prior to attending Cornell, Lucentini attended St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, and was a member of the orchestra and multiple athletic teams, including alpine skiing, rowing and cross country. Additionally, he wrote for the school newspaper and co-chaired the F1 club. In his senior year, he was selected for the leadership position of House Prefect — a residential leader — at the fully residential boarding school.
“Thad had a rare blend of curiosity and enthusiasm,” Kyle Gump, a close friend of Lucentini’s from high school, wrote in a statement to The Sun. “He built model planes and trains in his room, could explain F1 car engineering in perfect detail, and threw himself fully into anything he took on.”
Lucentini’s parents, Eric and Sandra Lucentini, recollected their son’s many interests, emphasizing his passion and talent for music. He began playing the violin in the first grade at the age of 6. Growing up, Lucentini played in many orchestras, including the youth wing Symphony Orchestra.
Orlando Pandolfi, head of the Arts Program at St. Paul’s School, remembered Lucentini as a stellar student and was happy to see that he had chosen to enroll and join the orchestra as a violinist. Pandolfi was a present mentor for Lucentini during his years at St. Paul’s.
“Thad basically checked off all the boxes to be a great asset to [St. Paul’s],” Pandolfi said.
Lucentini continued playing the violin when he got to Cornell, “occasionally pulling out his violin in his dorm room,” Eric Lucentini said.
“Right before he died, he told me he was going to go to the music building at Cornell, and try to post a note to see if anybody wanted to play with him,” Sandra Lucentini recalled.
Lucentini was interested and involved in several other activities as well and “saw himself as a well-rounded kid who was into a lot of different things,” Eric Lucentini said. One special interest of Lucentini’s was the military.
Lucentini ultimately chose to attend Cornell after juggling a decision between the University's ROTC program and an offer from The United States Military Academy at West Point.
Lucentini chose Cornell because “He felt like Cornell could be the best of both worlds,” said Eric Lucentini. He had already experienced a “fairly controlled environment” at St. Pauls, according to Eric Lucentini — he wanted more of a “traditional college experience” while being involved in military practices with the ROTC program.
Beyond academics and athletics, Lucentini had a part time job at his local supermarket during high school where he worked diligently and to give it his all. According to his parents, Lucentini had never once showed up late for the job, and always had a smile on his face while working.
“He enjoyed being connected to the real world and feeling like he was participating in the economy,” said Eric Lucentini.
Lucentini had many aspirations, one being to travel the world alongside his closest friends according to Sandra Lucentini. One of Lucentini’s friends, Andrew Carroll, with whom he had traveled with in high school wrote in a statement to The Sun that they “always had a blast on these trips and promised to visit every continent before [they] turned 30.”
Family, friends, his dog, Mimi and mentors of Lucentini’s will remember him for being a witty, friendly, helpful, interested and overall, happy person.
Memorials have taken place in Lucentini’s hometown, as well as at St. Paul’s school, to honor his life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Massachusetts Boys & Girls State Foundation in his honor by request of Eric and Sandra Lucentini.
The curious, cheerful and well-rounded friend, son, musician and athlete will be missed by many.
“He was into different things; sports was one of them, music was one of them, and cultivating his mind was one of them,” said Eric Lucentini, capturing a clear image of the person Lucentini is.
Jane Haviland is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a features editor for the News department and can be reached at jhaviland@cornellsun.com.
