Teonte Gentosi

Teonte Gentosi was born on August 31, 1932, on the south side of Des Moines in the neighborhood known as Little Italy. The son of Italian immigrants Aristide Giovanni and Antonia Maria Corso Gentosi, he grew up as the middle child between his sisters Diana Gentosi Evans and Amelita Gentosi Copley.

After attending St. Anthony’s School and Abraham Lincoln High School, Teonte began a long career at Iowa Power and Light, now known as MidAmerican Energy, where he worked for 44 years before retiring. He took great satisfaction in working concrete alongside his close friends Tony Grasso, Joe Balducci, and Rocky Vitiritto, with whom he shared a lifelong bond. He was also a partner in King Tuts with his friend Frank Caligiuri. An avid outdoorsman, Teonte trained black Labrador retrievers for field trials across Iowa. Two of his dogs, Cork of Evergreen and Penny of Evergreen, became field trial champions. He often recalled with fondness his early days hunting pigeons under the 7th Street bridge on the south side.

Teonte raised his family on Evergreen Avenue, where he built three brick homes, following his father’s advice that a home should always be built of brick. In later years he was joyfully reunited with his dear friend Dino Righi, whom he considered the brother he never had. The two spent nearly every day together, sharing meals, haircuts, and active membership in the Society of Italian Americans and the Vittoria Lodge.

He passed away at the age of 89 while residing at Edencrest of Green Meadows in Johnson, Iowa, where he was deeply appreciative of the caring staff. Preceded in death by his parents, his sister Diana Gentosi Evans, nephew Bobby Evans, and great-grandson William Webb, Teonte is survived by his children Debra Roberts (Bill), Rick Gentosi (Ronda), and Ted Gentosi (Kim), his sister Amelita Gentosi Copley, as well as his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.