Aristotle Sentementes
Aristotle (Harry) Sentementes, 97, passed away XX after a brief illness. He was born in Athens, Greece to Nicholas and Maria (Giannoglou) Sentementes and raised in the city of Kalamata. As a boy, he learned many trades that benefited him throughout his life. He could build or fix everything. He also witnessed the atrocities and food shortages from many wars and conflicts in Greece. At the age of 16, his father, a war hero whom he idolized, died, leaving Aristotle the man of the family and responsible for the care and sustenance of his mother and three younger siblings.
Aristotle lived a long, happy and meaningful life. He arrived in the US in 1947 to begin a successful career in manufacturing, including at Yale & Towne, Consolidated Diesel Corp. (ConDec) and Fermont. . He settled in Stamford and worked at Yale & Towne as a machinist. Although a proud American already through his father’s citizenship, he spoke little English. He was befriended at Yale & Towne by George Poulos, who introduced him to his daughter Penelope. Penelope was only one of the many young Greek American ladies in Stamford who swooned over Aristotle’s good looks and competed for his affection! The pair married in 1949 and were devoted to each other for 63 years, until Penelope’s passing in 2013. Their social life was focused on their Greek heritage and Greek Orthodox faith. Aristotle produced plays and shows at the Church of the Archangels that included young people from its sister parish, the Annunciation Church. He was an active member of the Church of the Archangels and served as an officer in the AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association). He also was a member of the Archangels Seniors Group and enjoyed spending time with his longtime friends. Whenever there was leftover food from the Seniors luncheons, Aristotle brought it to the Pacific House men’s shelter in Stamford, one of his favorite charities. He also loved making the loukoumathes (honey balls) at the Archangels Greek Festivals. Penelope and Aristotle enjoyed Caribbean cruises (even a memorable Alaskan cruise with their children and grandchildren), UConn Women’s Basketball and Greek soap operas and game shows. They especially enjoyed following their grandchildren’s sports teams, attending their school performances and hosting them every sunny summer day at their backyard pool. Aristotle regularly invited the neighborhood children to join the fun!
Aristotle joined the Consolidated Diesel Corp. in the early 1950s, where he was repeatedly promoted because of his honesty, talents, leadership and solid work ethic. He was committed to seeing that only the best and safest products were produced for the U.S. military. Aristotle rose to the position of production supervisor, managing a team of 52. In the 1960s, he was sent to Vietnam twice to train troops on the use of the amphibian vehicle, the LARC, produced by ConDec.
Aristotle loved helping people, a lesson learned from his youth. In earlier years, he routinely picked up hitchhikers and handed out dollars to the homeless on the street. After retirement, he regularly took ill friends and family members to their doctors’ appointments and visited them in hospitals. He gave money to whomever needed it, never expecting repayment. Aristotle was the center of the universe to his family, the patriarch. He was revered for his love, compassion, humor and wisdom. He loved a good conversation or debate. Aristotle spent much of his days following the stock market and making trades! He was very proud of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren and was their biggest cheerleader! In his final year, he greatly appreciated the care he received at The Residence at Summer Street in Stamford, where he particularly enjoyed the exercise class and bingo (he was very competitive and always a winner!) and making aides and other residents laugh!
Aristotle impacted many lives and will be deeply missed. He is survived by his cherished children: Alan (Debbie) Sentementes, Diane (Ted) Sierpina and Linda (Richard Lang) Sentementes; his beloved grandchildren, Steven Sentementes, Daniel (Despina) Sentementes, Jodi (AJ Savioli) Sentementes, Shannon Sierpina, Nicole (Tom) Landry, Amy (Thomas) Deverson and Caitlin (Nolan Lafler) Weinstock, and his seven treasured great-grandsons, Brady and Hunter Landry, Aristotelis and Nikolaos Sentementes, George and Henry (Harry) Lafler and Liam Savioli. He is also survived by his two brothers, Andrew (Pamela) Sentementes and Pericles (Erika) Sentementes and many nieces and nephews, including his devoted niece Mary (Bill) Janocha and his godson, James (Kirsten) Bitzonis. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Penelope and his sister, Artemis Papagelis. His memory will be eternal to his family and to his friends who visited and spoke with him regularly, including Koumbaro Lee Bitzonis and Koumbara Ann Ventsias.
The family would like to thank Aristotle’s doctors, particularly, Dr. Antonios Katsigiannis and Dr. William Hines, and the staff at The Residence on Summer Street for their compassionate care.