Dumont – Rafael “Ray” Augusto Tolentino, age 76, loving husband to Sandra and devoted father to five children, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family, after a battle with pancreatic cancer on April 10, 2020. Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, he immigrated to New York City at a young age where he would live for many years before eventually settling with his family in Dumont, NJ in 1976.
Rafael is a proud member of the United States Marine Corps where he patriotically served from October 1962 to September 1968. After earning both his BA in Economics and MBA in Finance from Fordham University, he would begin his career at CBS. He later landed at Turner Construction, where he would advance to become VP, Legal Administration and Assistant Secretary before retiring in 2007. He was a member of VFW Post 761, American Legion Post 21, and was also a member of the Dumont Board of Education for over 20 years. He was widely known around town as the coach of various sports teams from basketball to softball.
Ray had a passion for oldies music, any basketball that was not the NBA, Johnny Walker Red, the New York Mets and dining at his favorite restaurants Chapala Grill in Bergenfield and The Hungry Peddler. Ray’s happiest moments were on his annual family vacations to Cape Cod where he would listen to his favorite live performer, Harry French. He was known for his strong opinions, his loyalty to his family and friends and his outgoing, generous spirit.
Rafael was predeceased by his father, Pedro Augusto Tolentino, his mother Consuelo Tavares, and his brother Romolo Tavares as well as his Aunt Petra with whom he had a very close bond. He is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra “Sandy” Lee Tolentino, his daughter Lorenza “Lori” Marie Bernklow and her husband Gary, his son Rafael “Ray” Augusto Tolentino Jr., his son Miguel Jose Tolentino and his wife Jennifer, his son Tomas Alejandro Tolentino, and his daughter Rachael Lee DeLoreto and her husband Michael. He loved being Pop Pop to his five beautiful grandchildren; Abigail Lee Bernklow, Connor Ray Bernklow, Kieran Cassidy Tolentino, Maximilian Jose Tolentino, and Brynlee Reagan Deloreto, and will be deeply missed by his brothers Octavio, Pablo, Pedro, Freddy, Eduardo and Ricardo Tolentino.
Due to the current restrictions a public memorial service will be held at a later date once it is deemed safe to do so.