Hunterdon Central scholarship will honor the legacy of 2012 grad
Friends and family of Dr. Dominic Gentile, a veterinarian and 2012 Hunterdon Central High School graduate, want to honor Gentile with a scholarship in his name.
Gentile, 28, died on Oct. 29 after being first diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in 2019.
"Dominic was a very special person," said Ron Armellino, a member of the Readington Township recreation committee "Dominic was an amazing person who was admired and loved by everyone who had the chance to be part of his life."
To celebrate Gentile's life, with the support of his family and friends, a scholarship — the Dominic Steven Gentile Memorial Scholarship — will be given starting with the May 2022 awards for Hunterdon Central seniors.
"Hopefully, people who knew Dominic will agree that this is a small way to keep the memory of Dominic alive and celebrate his many outstanding accomplishments in his much too short life and help students in the process," Armellino said.
An active member of the Readington Township recreation community, Gentile volunteered with many programs and fundraising activities, as a child, teenager and young man.
At Hunterdon Central, Gentile was a student athlete and captain of the soccer team. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rutgers University in 2016 and went on to attend Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. It was during his fourth year in veterinary school that Gentile was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare type of cancerous tumor that grows in your bones, Armellino said.
Upon graduating, Gentile worked at the Whitehouse Veterinary Hospital in Whitehouse Station.
Gentile, the son of James and Maureen Gentile, was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and grew up in Whitehouse Station. Besides his parents, Gentile is survived by his wife, Alexandra Gentile, his brother, Nick Gentile, and his sister, Jamie Gentile.
The scholarship will read:
Dominic Gentile was an outstanding member of the Readington Township Community. He is best known for being a tireless volunteer in the community and someone that always thought about other people first. He was a standout athlete in high school and college but is best remembered as a great friend and teammate. Dominic had a gentle kindness about him and always put the well-being and happiness of others first. Many people describe him as an "old soul." He is loved by everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him.
Each candidate will be requested to write an essay explaining how they demonstrate the characteristics that Gentile lived by, whether on a team or other extracurricular activity. They also will explain why they deserve the scholarship.
Donations to the scholarship fund are welcome. Checks can be made out to Hunterdon Central Regional High School with Dominic Steven Gentile Scholarship noted on the memo line. The due date for checks to the fund is April 15 and should be mailed to Ron Armellino, 36 Rainflower Lane, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.
For more information, contact Melissa Adams at melissawadams@gmail.com or Armellino at rjarmellino@gmail.com.
email: cmakin@gannettnj.com
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Hunterdon Central scholarship will honor the legacy of 2012 grad
