JUDITH KAYE LENTINI

Judith Kaye Lentini, 58, died on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, after a protracted battle with lung cancer. A resident of No Name Key, Fla., since 2005, Judy grew up in Greenwich, Conn. She was the second-oldest in a family of nine children.

A graduate of Greenwich High School and New College in Sarasota, Fla., she earned a master's degree in cell biology from the University of Connecticut.

Her husband of 31 years knew it was love at first sight when they met in college. They were both from New England families of nine children in which everyone's name began with the letter "J." She actively participated in the furtherance of her husband's career as a forensic scientist.

Judy raised two wonderful children in Marietta, Ga. She served as PTA president at Brumby Elementary School and East Cobb Middle School. A longtime advocate of literacy for children, Judy worked with local bookstores to ensure that every kindergarten child had a book of his or her own.

Judy's infinite compassion for humanity manifested itself through her incredible ability to make everyone feel like they had known her for years. Whether chatting with someone in line at the grocery store or opening her home to the friends of her children, everyone who ever met Judy loved her.

Preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Miriam Kaye of Greenwich, she is survived by her husband of 31 years, John Lentini of No Name Key; daughter, Julia (Heather) Lentini of South Windsor, Conn.; son, Jerald (Lauren) Lentini of Silver Spring, Md.; siblings, Janet Kaye (Dan) Kushel of Buffalo, N.Y., Joel (Kimberly McKeever-Kaye) Kaye and Jeremy (Lucille) Kaye of Greenwich, Jessica Kaye (Richard) Brewer of Los Angeles, Calif., Jocelyn (Andrew) Comendul of Danbury, N.H., Jevera (William) Hennessey of Stamford, Conn., Justine Kaye (Justin) King of Los Angeles and Johanna (Jeff) Greenfield of Newington, Conn.; and many nieces, nephews and in-laws. In addition to her natural relatives, Judy "adopted" several children along the way, most notably Amanda Schuler Starr of Marietta, Ga.

Judy's final days were difficult, but the doctors and nursing staff of Lower Keys Medical Center and VNA Hospice did everything possible to ease the transition for both the patient and her family. We could not have asked for more professional or compassionate medical care.

Friends and family will celebrate Judy's life in the way she demanded: with the Beatles, blue jeans, and a party to be held at the Rooftop Café in Key West from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2010. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the website that kept friends and family in touch throughout her illness, at http://www.caringbridge.org, or to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.