Thaddeus W. Lucentini

Thaddeus W. Lucentini

Shelburne Falls, MA - Thaddeus William Lucentini, age 19, of Shelburne Falls, died unexpectedly on October 13, 2025.

The beloved and only child of Eric J. and Sandra E. (Jones) Lucentini, Thad was born on August 10, 2006, in New York City. His loving parents cherished every moment of his existence, from his first to his last. They will carry him in their hearts every day, every hour, and every minute until they too depart this earth.

Thad was raised in Shelburne Falls. He was a precocious child: by the time he was two, he was trilingual in French, Italian and English, and his loving home rang with his bright voice in all three languages. He attended and graduated from elementary school at the Smith College Campus School in Northampton, and then middle school at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield. Next came high school; this June, he graduated with distinction from St. Paul's School in Concord, NH. During his senior year at St. Paul's, Thad received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, but ultimately decided to attend Cornell University's College of Arts & Sciences, where he was accepted with a four-year national Army ROTC scholarship. So, in August of this year, he moved to Ithaca, NY, where he began his life as a college student and officer cadet – a life he was loving.

Growing up, Thad's interests flourished in multiple directions. He began studying the violin at the age of six and became an accomplished musician. His parents' hearts filled with joy when he practiced, as his beautiful music carried through their home. Thad developed wonderful relationships with each of his violin teachers. Over the years he played in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra's youth programs – the Youth Sinfonia (where he finished his time as concertmaster) and the Youth Orchestra. Throughout his education, he also played in his school orchestras – at St. Paul's, he played first violin in the school's accomplished orchestral ensemble. While at St. Paul's, he also auditioned for and was accepted into the New Hampshire All-State Orchestra for three years in a row.

At St. Paul's, Thad grew into a fine young man. An excellent writer with a deep love of learning, he routinely took challenging classes throughout the curriculum. Unusually well read, he cultivated a deep and increasingly sophisticated love of history, nurtured by some excellent teachers whom he admired. Thad did not neglect athletics. He ran cross-country every fall, was on the ski team every winter, and rowed crew for three of his four years at St. Paul's. He wrote for the school newspaper and, during his senior year, co-chaired the school's F-1 club. That year, he was also honored to serve in the important school leadership position of House Prefect.

Thad was a hard worker. Home from school on breaks, he held down a regular job at Big Y Supermarket in Greenfield, where he always showed up on time and served customers with a smile. During two recent summers, Thad also volunteered his time to the Shelburne Falls Senior Center. In 2024, he attended and tremendously enjoyed the Massachusetts Boys' State Program, where he made more friends.

Thad's life was far too short, and he had so much more to do and give – he was brimming with plans and dreams that will never come true. But the brief time he had was full of experiences, achievements, friendships, and love. Upon graduating from St. Paul's, he took a trip to Montreal with most of his fellow graduates; right after that, he traveled with two of his closest friends to Kyrgyzstan for ten days. They envisioned more adventurous trips together in the future.

Thad leaves behind many, many people who loved him. Among those are his adoring parents, Eric and Sandra, his uncles Kevin (Zoila) Jones and Jack Lucentini, his aunts Stephanie (Bill) Jones and Laura (Jeremy) McGeorge. He also leaves behind cousins Marianna and Cora Jones, Davis (Dania Takrity) and Lily (Steele Worsham) Jones, and Livia and Hollis McGeorge. He was predeceased by his loving grandparents, Mauro and Paola Lucentini, and William and Mary Ann Jones.

Calling hours will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Sunday, October 26, at Smith Kelleher Funeral Home, 87 Franklin Street, Greenfield, MA. A funeral service will take place at 1:00 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew, 8 Church Street, in Greenfield, followed by interment at Laurel Hill Cemetery, 286 Pine Nook Road, Deerfield.

A separate memorial for Thad will take place at St. Paul's School in November.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Massachusetts Boys & Girls State Foundation