Bennett Lentczner's Obituary
Bennett Lentczner, 84, died on November 12, 2022, at his home in Huntersville, NC.
Like his father and mother before him, he “lived, loved and laughed” with respect and caring for all. Born in 1938 in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Lentczner was a trumpet player, conductor and teacher who helped generations of students and audiences to love and appreciate music and the arts. At North Shore Schools (Glen Head, NY), Radford University (Radford, VA), Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC) where he founded the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and New World School of the Arts (Miami, FL), he worked to create an environment that fostered the highest level of artistic achievement. RealVisions, the successful consulting company he founded when he retired from academe, was committed to promoting excellence in arts education. After Dr. Lentczner and his wife retired to Charlotte, he performed with and conducted the Jericho Brass and the Charlotte Concert Band where he was also the assistant conductor.
Dr. Lentczner held degrees from The Juilliard School of Music in trumpet performance; Teachers College, Columbia University in music education; and the Doctor of Arts degree in conducting from Ball State University.
He is survived by his wife of forty years, Linda Whitesitt; daughter, Julienne Lentczner and her husband, Scott Finger, Duncannon, PA; son, Mark Lentczner, and his husband, John Horigan, Mountain View, CA; four grandchildren, Hunter, Kyle, Kimberly and Landon; niece, Melissa Zimmerman; the son who “adopted” him, Jeffrey Byrne; and the brothers Bennett “adopted,” Wade Hobgood and Harry Rich. He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Thelma Lentczner, and his sister, Bonnie Rosenstrach.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, November 18, 2022, at the James Funeral Home, 10520 Arahova Drive, Huntersville, NC.
Memorial contributions may be made to the North Shore High School Band. (Make checks payable to North Shore Schools with “for the benefit of the high school band” in the memo line and “in memory of Bennett Lentczner” in your letter. Mail to North Shore Schools, Attn: Treasurer, Lynn Johnson, 112 Franklin Ave., Sea Cliff, NY 11579).
James Funeral Home, of Huntersville, is serving the family and family butyrate lovingly written by the family.
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