Lew met the love of his life, Clelia ‘Cleo’ Martinelli Serventi, 96, during high school in Rimersburg, PA. They dated for six years and were happily married for another 73 years. Their nightly toast to each other was ‘we were meant to be’! Lew and Cleo raised two daughters, Michele ‘Mikey’ Rechberger (Wes Kline) of Perry, NY, and the late Debra Jones Duncan (Mike) of Charlottesville, VA. Lew was devoted to and passionate about his family, and passed along his joy of skiing, jazz music, and gardening. He also adopted the interests of those he loved, including his three grandchildren David (Leslie Stinson, Boulder, CO), Kristin (Enric Sala, Washington, DC), and Ed Rechberger IV (Karen), and three great-grandchildren, Derek (Carmen), Lizabeth and Gregory Rechberger.
A WWII veteran, Lew served as staff sergeant in the United States Air Corps from 1942-1946. He was stationed at Boca Raton, FL where he trained incoming squadrons in a new thing at the time called ‘radar’. His tour of duty took him to Saipan and Iwo Jima where his tent was at the base of Mount Suribachi. He could see the American flag waving above him. He was proud to serve the United States of America. After the war Lew returned to the family business of movie theatres in Rimersburg, PA. Later, being entrepreneurs at heart, Lew and his late brother, Mark, brought their young families to Perry, NY in 1954 to start and build the Lew-Mark Baking Company, which became the NY-NJ franchise of Archway Cookies. The baking business flourished and expanded for 46 years under three generations of family leadership, including nephew, the late Michael Serventi and grandson Ed Rechberger IV. Lew was dedicated to community service and was an active, often anonymous philanthropist. He served in the Perry Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and a devoted photographer of the annual Perry Rotary Show. He was a great supporter of community organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Genesee Community College, Wyoming County Hospital, and Perry Central School. He was recognized regularly for his humble service. He often said ‘Make all you can honestly; Save all you can prudently; Give all you can wisely.’
Lew was known to be a generous gentleman, as well as a gentle man, full of kindness, good cheer and manners. He always, no matter what was going on, had time for the people in his life. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
There will be no prior calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
In honor of Lew’s legacy, donations may be made to Livingston County Hospice, Building #2, 2 Murray Hill Drive, Mt Morris NY, 14510 or to The Foundation for Perry’s Educational Future, Inc, 33 Watkins Ave, Perry, NY, 14530. For more information please call (585) 237-2626 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.eatonwatsonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Eaton-Watson Funeral Home, LLC. 98 North Main Street Perry, New York 14530.
