Arnold John Celentano

Arnold John Celentano, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and mentor, passed away peacefully in his Louisville home on Friday, November 10, 2023, at the age of 94. He was born on October 3, 1929, in the Bronx, NY, to Michael and Rafaela "Fanny" Celentano.

Arnold's legacy lives on through his extensive family. He is survived by his current wife and sweetheart of 34 years, Jo Ann Battista Myatt Celentano, along with his three beloved stepchildren: Jean Ann Myatt, Lisa Myatt, and Early Alston Myatt IV (Tara). He is also survived by some of Arnold's grandchildren: Audrey, Jesika, Luke, Early V, and Maggie, as well as his great-grandchildren. Additionally, he is survived by his first wife, Matilda Perretti Guardino, and his four beloved children: Andrew Celentano (Hilary), Lorraine Bailey (Roger), Dennis Celentano (Cheryl), and Michael Celentano. Arnold's grandchildren include Drew, Sutton, Regan, Nathan, Mary Beth, Jon, David, Nicole, Zach, Abby, and he leaves behind even more great-grandchildren.

Arnold was a man of many passions and accomplishments. He was passionate about his community and made a lasting impact wherever he went. Arnold began his journey in New York City but moved his family to Cortlandt, NY, to provide a nurturing environment for his children. He actively served the community as a scout leader, school board president, and conservationist. Arnold's dedication to public service led him to become the Chairman of the Republican Party that supported the election of NY Governor Pataki. His professional engineering background allowed him to serve as the Superintendent of Water and Sewage for the town. After his official retirement, Arnold continued to serve the Louisville community, volunteering as an election poll worker and eventually becoming the Chair of the Metropolitan Sewer District Board, a position he held with great honor. He was also an active member of numerous local community groups and associations, including the 2nd Street Association, 3rd Street Association, 1300 Block Neighborhood Association, Old Louisville Neighborhood Council, and the St. James Art Fair.

Arnold was a man of diverse interests and enjoyed sharing them with his dear friends. He was a member of small community groups such as the local gourmet club, gun club, and a Bible study group at 3rd Avenue Baptist Church. Arnold's love for the arts and his community led him to donate to various museums and organizations, including The Derby Museum, The Speed Art Museum, and the U of L School of Music. He also had a passion for culinary delights and was a regular patron of restaurants such as The Café, The River House, and Buck's.

In addition to his community involvement, Arnold was a highly accomplished Professional Engineer, lifelong learner, problem solver, and innovator. His engineering career began at a young age when he repaired large church organs in New York City, including the one in Carnegie Hall. He earned his BSEE degree at Cooper Union while working at Bell Laboratories, where he served his country during wartime as part of the design team for a top-secret navigation system used by the Navy and Air Force. Arnold was granted three important commercial patents, including the first automatic telephone answering machine. His expertise in engineering led him to work at General Precision Labs and eventually start his own engineering consulting firm. One of his notable achievements was designing the first centralized power generation switching and monitoring center for the NY Power Pool, which played a crucial role in mitigating blackouts. Arnold was also a self-taught pianist and delighted others with his unplanned performances of songs like "Blue Moon."

Even in his later years, Arnold remained active and technologically savvy. He continued to manage food deliveries, Air B&B, and other online services using his iPhone, iPad, and Bluetooth gadgets. Arnold's wisdom and mentorship touched the lives of many. He inspired others with his talks about human accomplishments, the vastness of the universe, and the power of applying oneself. Arnold led by example, always dressing well, being polite, well-spoken, organized, and remaining calm, cool, and collected. He found teaching opportunities in every aspect of life, shaping his children and grandchildren into musicians, engineers, or both. Arnold's desire to remove hate and violence from communities led him to put an ad in the local paper, seeking like-minded individuals, but unfortunately received no response. He often shared insightful sayings, such as "Political Pundits Perpetuate Partisan Positions of Power to Polarize People" when discussing politics, and advised others to "Accept, Adapt, and Adjust" when it came to aging. Arnold believed that if one loves what they do, they never work a day in their life. His most recent reflection on the Divine was, "Our Creator created us in His image, to create."

A Celebration of Life will be held on December 16, 2023, at 2 pm at Shawnee Baptist Church on Bank Street in Louisville, KY 40212. The ceremony will consist of a short service in the chapel, followed by a social reception in the same area. Family and friends are invited to come together to share happy memories of Arnold.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to the Church at https://shawneebaptist.church. Additionally, friends and loved ones are encouraged to share their fond memories of Arnold online at https://obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/louisville-ky/arnold-celentano-11539075.

Arnold John Celentano will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy of community service, mentorship, and innovation will continue to inspire generations to come.