Francis M. (Googie) Gentile, who resided in both Worcester, Massachusetts and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away at his home in Worcester on January 3, 2023. He was 90 years old. He was the son of the late Pasquale and Maria (Campaniello) Gentile, who passed away before his birth in Worcester on October 1, 1932. He was the devoted husband of Donna (Auger) Gentile for 61 years before she passed away. He is the beloved father of Michael F. Gentile and his wife Dale of Worcester, as well as Donna M. Scola and her husband Stephen of Worcester.
He is also the cherished grandfather of Tanya Gentile, Anthony Gentile and his wife Carol, Dana Scola and her partner Steven Moulton, Marc Scola and his wife Michelle, and five great-grandchildren named Tyler, Ryan, Mia, His sister-in-law, Amanda (Gentile) Anastasi, as well as many nieces and nephews, including his niece Mary O’Malley, who was also his buddy and casino companion, will survive him. He also leaves behind a sister-in-law. Francis was preceded in death by his siblings Nicholas P., Michael J., and Carl J. Gentile, as well as his sisters Rose E. O’Malley and her husband Joseph and Angela M. Palermo and her husband Vincent.
In addition to his parents, Francis was also predeceased by his brothers. Francis graduated from Commerce High School and continued his education at Suffolk University. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps and was quite proud of his accomplishments. In his youth, Francis competed in semi-professional baseball for a number of Worcester teams, as well as for Suffolk University and the Marine Corps squad. He was a highly athletic man. Due to the fact that he was a skilled baseball player, he had a good understanding of the game and never hesitated to comment when the Red Sox made a poor play. It was always fun for him to talk about the laws of the game with his nephew, Stephen Palermo, who is an umpire in the American League.
He was devoted to the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Bruins. After he retired from the United States Postal Service, where he had been a supervisor for many years, he took up tennis and became an excellent player. You might find him in Lake Park in Worcester, where he was always eager to take up a game, and he was a participant in the Vista Gardens league. Cooking was one of Goog’s favorite pastimes, and it brought him great delight. He only divulged his most highly guarded culinary secrets to his offspring and grandkids. Pizza, gravy, meatballs, and the perfect cream puff were among his culinary skills, all of which he gladly shared with everybody and everyone who knew him. It was a stop in Atlantic City that he and Donna looked forward to every time they made their journey between Worcester, Hampton Beach, and Vero Beach. He had a strong attachment to his family and treasured the time he spent with his offspring, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren.