September
We were saddened yesterday to learn of the passing of W. Dennis Osborn, PDD of Brandon Lodge#2383.Dennis was Southwest Central District Vice President in 2012/13 and served as District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler in 2013/14. Dennis has also been a member of the Florida State Elks Association Business Practices Committee since 2014.
Dennis lost his wife of 37 years, Viola, in December of 2018.
Dennis had many friends and he will be sorely missed.
Services for Dennis will be held at the Brandon Elks Lodge on Friday, September 27, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. preceded by visitation at 10:00 a.m.
The lodge is located at:
800 Centennial Lodge Drive
Brandon, FL 33510
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Lois J. Harmes of Sarasota South Lodge # 2495. Lois was the special friend of Lawrence “Larry” Hildebrand also a member of Sarasota South Elks Lodge.
Arrangements have not been released at this time.
It's our sad duty to report the passing of Mrs Jacqueline DiCosmo, Mother of Denise Smith, Exalted Ruler of the South Lake Lodge and the Mother-in-Law of Russell Smith, PER, North Central District Vice President.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Denise and Russ and their family.
It is with a sad heart that we inform our members the passing of Joan Fritz, FLOE PSP from Port Orange Lodge #2723. Please keep her family in your prayers.
August
We regret to inform the passing of DDGER Michael F. Scholdbauer's Mother, Risha Schodlbauer.
Dear fellow Elks, Friends of Elks and Neighbors,
It is with a heavy heart that The Naples Elks announce the sudden and unexpected passing of our Exalted Ruler Sherry Hensley.
Funeral arrangements shall be in Kentucky at the Carman Funeral Home 2301 Argillite RD. Flatwoods, KY. 41139. Tel.# (606) 836-5833
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Delray Beach Past Exalted Ruler, Michael Rodriguez. Mike passed away this morning in Delray Medical Center ending his battle with cancer.
We were advised this morning that PER Joe Slatton, St. Petersburg Lodge #1224, passed after a long battle beginning with prostate cancer that spread through his body. Joe recently was sent home from Bill Young VAVS (Bay Pines) Medical Center for home Hospice Care. Joe was surrounded by his loving family, great friend, PER Judy Schmickle, and his two dogs when he died.
Joe Slatton was a Korean War Veteran who continued his service to our nation by being an active participant with the Korean War Auxiliary Honor Guard and a very active Elk. Joe was a speaker representing the Korean War Veterans in Washington, DC for the 2017 Parade of Heroes.
July
We regret to inform you of the passing of District Vice President Sal Lentine. Sal was the Vice President of the Southeast Central District and was a member of Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658. Sal had been hospitalized as of late with serious heart complications. Just this week we were notified of Sal’s inability to continue as District VP and Tom Carns was appointed as interim DVP. Sal was also the State Chairman of the Community Projects & Activities Committee.
Arrangements as well as next of kin contacts are pending.
Sal Lentine was born in New York City in 1953 and grew up in Queens, N.Y. He moved to Port St. Lucie, Fla., in August 2006.
He graduated from L.I.C. High School in Queens, N.Y., in 1971 and attended the NYPD Police Academy for six months in 1982 studying law, police science and social science.
Lentine worked in the automotive field for 10 years before joining the NYPD in January 1982 as a police officer. He was a first responder to 911 and retired as a detective in February 2002.
In 2006, Lentine became a member of Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658. He had been a snowbird for two years prior to moving to Florida and met a few Elks in a golf league. They would take him to whatever lodge was near the golf course as a guest for lunch. Once he moved to Florida permanently, a friend of his from New Jersey who was an Elk for many years sponsored him and also demitted to Port St. Lucie Lodge.
He has served as Leading Knight and Exalted Ruler and has been a volunteer cook, bartender and assistant bar manager. He served on the House Committee and as a trustee before becoming chairman of both. He is a member of the state First Responders of the Year Award Committee. He was District Chairman of Lodge Activities and Vice Chairman of Community Projects & Activities.
In addition to the Elks, Lentine is a third-degree knight of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Sons of the American Legion. He enjoys shooting sporting clays and spending time with family and friends.
Lentine has a daughter, Cheryl, and a son, Robert. Both live in New York.
We regret to inform you that Roy Markham, PDDGER passed away this morning. Roy was a very active Elk at Lake City Lodge #893 and he will be missed by many.
He and his wife Eleanor ( his first wife) were dedicated to supporting the State and National Elks.
We regret to inform you of the passing of Brother Tom Ryan.
A visitation and service will be held on Saturday, July 6th at:
TM Ralph Funeral Home
7001 NW 4th Street
Plantation, FL, 33317
954-587-6888
The visitation will take place from 9:30 – 11:00 am with service following immediately at 11:00 am.
The interment will be at 12 Noon at:
Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens
2401 SW 64th Avenue (Davie Road and I-595
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317
A Celebration of Tom’s life will be held beginning at 1:30 pm at:
Renaissance Hotel
1230 South Pine Island Road
Plantation, FL 33324
954-472-2252
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been set up in Tom’s name at Eckerd College.
May-June
We regret to inform you of the passing of Brother Vincent "Vinnie" Gough Jr., which occured on May 12th, 2019. Services are being held at Clymer Funeral Home at 39 Old Kings Road North Palm Coast, FL 32137 on Thursday, May 16th at 5:00 p.m.. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday May 17th, at 11a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church at 4600 Belle Terre Parkway Plam Coast, FL 32164.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Vincent's memory to:
Coastal Florida Police & Fire Pipes & Drums
P.O. Box 353203
Palm Coast, FL 32135
It is with the greatest of sadness that I deliver to you today the heartbreaking news of the death of a great Elk and friend, Val Bates. Val died peacefully at home this afternoon surrounded by his close family and his loving wife Claudia. On behalf of all the Elks of Florida we send out to Claudia and the family, our most heartfelt condolences and sympathy.
January-April
It is our sad duty to report the passing of our good member Past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Lemieul “Lee” Bennett, Sr. Lee passed away on January 21st, 2019. Eulogy was held during our regular scheduled meeting of January 22, 2019.
Lee was an Elk member for over 36 years. He was initiated in 1982 and quickly expressed an interest in serving Elkdom and his lodge. He served as Inner Guard, Chaplain, Esquire, Loyal Knight, Leading Knight, Exalted Ruler and 4 years as a Trustee. During 1992 he served as the North District Vice-President representing the Florida States Elks Association and in 1993 he was the North District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler. His contribution through the years are greatly appreciated and he will be missed.
Lee was a very much respected member of our community serving as a member or officer of more than one civic organization and most importantly as the Chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Lee is survived by his mother Mrs. Frances Bennett, one son Lem Bennett (Rebecca), one daughter Tiffany French (Nathan), two brothers Ricky and Daniel Bennett, and one grandchild Jeremiah Lee French.
He cared about his family, his community, our Veterans, our youth….Rest in Peace … “to our absent member”
![Joseph B. "Joe" Bryant, PDD](/images/sickness-distress/Joe_Bryant.png "Joseph B. "Joe" Bryant, PDD")
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we inform you of the passing today of Joseph B. Bryant, a Past State Treasurer of the Florida State Elks Association. Joe was a member of the Sebring Lodge # 1529 and was a Past District Deputy in 1979/80. Joe served the FSEA as the State Treasurer for 33 years going emeritus in 2018. Joe’s wife Nancy Faye is a Past State President of the Florida Ladies of Elks.
