Marty Lentz, 65 of Valrico, FL. passed away suddenly on 16 Nov 2008 from a heart aneurysm. He was predeceased by his father, retired Lt. Col. Ralph F. Lentz. Surviving him was his devoted partner, Alicia Dominicis; his children Brian and Christine Gaitan (Lance); granddaughter Emily; mother Rose of Summerfield, FL. and sister Cathy Baker and husband Jim of Johns Island, S.C.; niece Rachel Parker of Charleston, S.C., and many other family members and friends. Marty was born in Pittsburg, PA. and later in his early life moved with his family to northern Virginia where he attended and graduated from Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, VA. It was here at Mount Vernon where he became quite the athlete, and honed his basketball skills. Growing some two/three inches after his sophomore season (to approximately 6'-6" tall) he average 28.8 points a game in his junior year. Then in February 1961, he set a Virginia state high school basketball record that stills stands today some 50 years later--when he scored 74 points in a high school game (which consisted of four 8-minute quarters). From a story by Dick Heller, report w/WASHINGTON TIMES, "Lentz's numbers offensively that night against J.E.B. Stuart High School were more than remarkable: 27 for 51 shooting from the field, 20-25 from the foul line, and he easily outscored the entire J.E.B. Stuart team that night for Mount Vernon in a 107-63 victory. Marty won recognition as an 'All American' basetball player in his junior and senior years of high school--and averaged almost 37 points a game in his senior year. During and following his high school career, he was highly recruited by any number of colleges--finally deciding upon West Virginia University (WVU). After a severe knee injury sustained when he was a sophomore there in Morgantown, Marty averaged just 6.2 points in his remaining three season (67 games) for the Mountaineers. Graduating from college, he never looked back"-- and evidently moved seamlessly into a position in the property/casualty insurance business with USSA Insurance Company, and eventually settled in Florida.
Some 30+ years later, after a successful career in the insurance business, he was able to retire in 2005. Always a gifted athlete and avid golfer, he was always ready for a 'round of golf' with friends, anytime/ anywhere. He was a devoted grandfather to Emily, never missing any of her fast-pitch softball games. Marty and Alicia attended St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico; funeral services took place at noon on Friday 21 Nov 2008 at the Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home. The family received friends from 6-8 PM on Thursday, 20 Nov at the funeral home. Marty was interred in Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery in Brandon, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to Marty's favorite non-profit organizations: either Emily's softball team, 'Team Florida,' 3850 Talah Drive, Palm Harbor, FL. 34684--or the Metropolitan Ministries.
BIO CREDITS: news article written by Dick Heller of WASHINGTON TIMES, with input from Marty's sister-Ms. Cathy Baker. Some other details contributed by a now 'crusty old x-roundball player from that same area of northern Virginia; photographer of picture of Marty "in Mt. Vernon" uniform," unknown.
Some 30+ years later, after a successful career in the insurance business, he was able to retire in 2005. Always a gifted athlete and avid golfer, he was always ready for a 'round of golf' with friends, anytime/ anywhere. He was a devoted grandfather to Emily, never missing any of her fast-pitch softball games. Marty and Alicia attended St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico; funeral services took place at noon on Friday 21 Nov 2008 at the Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home. The family received friends from 6-8 PM on Thursday, 20 Nov at the funeral home. Marty was interred in Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery in Brandon, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to Marty's favorite non-profit organizations: either Emily's softball team, 'Team Florida,' 3850 Talah Drive, Palm Harbor, FL. 34684--or the Metropolitan Ministries.
BIO CREDITS: news article written by Dick Heller of WASHINGTON TIMES, with input from Marty's sister-Ms. Cathy Baker. Some other details contributed by a now 'crusty old x-roundball player from that same area of northern Virginia; photographer of picture of Marty "in Mt. Vernon" uniform," unknown.
Marty Lentz, 65 of Valrico, FL. passed away suddenly on 16 Nov 2008 from a heart aneurysm. He was predeceased by his father, retired Lt. Col. Ralph F. Lentz. Surviving him was his devoted partner, Alicia Dominicis; his children Brian and Christine Gaitan (Lance); granddaughter Emily; mother Rose of Summerfield, FL. and sister Cathy Baker and husband Jim of Johns Island, S.C.; niece Rachel Parker of Charleston, S.C., and many other family members and friends. Marty was born in Pittsburg, PA. and later in his early life moved with his family to northern Virginia where he attended and graduated from Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, VA. It was here at Mount Vernon where he became quite the athlete, and honed his basketball skills. Growing some two/three inches after his sophomore season (to approximately 6'-6" tall) he average 28.8 points a game in his junior year. Then in February 1961, he set a Virginia state high school basketball record that stills stands today some 50 years later--when he scored 74 points in a high school game (which consisted of four 8-minute quarters). From a story by Dick Heller, report w/WASHINGTON TIMES, "Lentz's numbers offensively that night against J.E.B. Stuart High School were more than remarkable: 27 for 51 shooting from the field, 20-25 from the foul line, and he easily outscored the entire J.E.B. Stuart team that night for Mount Vernon in a 107-63 victory. Marty won recognition as an 'All American' basetball player in his junior and senior years of high school--and averaged almost 37 points a game in his senior year. During and following his high school career, he was highly recruited by any number of colleges--finally deciding upon West Virginia University (WVU). After a severe knee injury sustained when he was a sophomore there in Morgantown, Marty averaged just 6.2 points in his remaining three season (67 games) for the Mountaineers. Graduating from college, he never looked back"-- and evidently moved seamlessly into a position in the property/casualty insurance business with USSA Insurance Company, and eventually settled in Florida.
Some 30+ years later, after a successful career in the insurance business, he was able to retire in 2005. Always a gifted athlete and avid golfer, he was always ready for a 'round of golf' with friends, anytime/ anywhere. He was a devoted grandfather to Emily, never missing any of her fast-pitch softball games. Marty and Alicia attended St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico; funeral services took place at noon on Friday 21 Nov 2008 at the Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home. The family received friends from 6-8 PM on Thursday, 20 Nov at the funeral home. Marty was interred in Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery in Brandon, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to Marty's favorite non-profit organizations: either Emily's softball team, 'Team Florida,' 3850 Talah Drive, Palm Harbor, FL. 34684--or the Metropolitan Ministries.
BIO CREDITS: news article written by Dick Heller of WASHINGTON TIMES, with input from Marty's sister-Ms. Cathy Baker. Some other details contributed by a now 'crusty old x-roundball player from that same area of northern Virginia; photographer of picture of Marty "in Mt. Vernon" uniform," unknown.
Some 30+ years later, after a successful career in the insurance business, he was able to retire in 2005. Always a gifted athlete and avid golfer, he was always ready for a 'round of golf' with friends, anytime/ anywhere. He was a devoted grandfather to Emily, never missing any of her fast-pitch softball games. Marty and Alicia attended St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico; funeral services took place at noon on Friday 21 Nov 2008 at the Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home. The family received friends from 6-8 PM on Thursday, 20 Nov at the funeral home. Marty was interred in Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery in Brandon, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to Marty's favorite non-profit organizations: either Emily's softball team, 'Team Florida,' 3850 Talah Drive, Palm Harbor, FL. 34684--or the Metropolitan Ministries.
BIO CREDITS: news article written by Dick Heller of WASHINGTON TIMES, with input from Marty's sister-Ms. Cathy Baker. Some other details contributed by a now 'crusty old x-roundball player from that same area of northern Virginia; photographer of picture of Marty "in Mt. Vernon" uniform," unknown.
