Robert Alan Kentis
November 16, 1938 ~ August 13, 2013
Robert Alan Kentis, 74, died on August 13 of cancer at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He was a Vienna resident.
Bob was born in Morristown, New Jersey. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers University and a master's degree from the Maxwell Graduate School of Citizenship and Public Affairs from Syracuse University. Before joining the CIA in 1963 he was a studio manager for ABC television in New York City.
Bob worked as an intelligence officer for the CIA as both a staffer and a contractor for 50 years. He had tours of duty in Laos and Australia, and served as the CIA liaison officer at Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska.
Bob loved movies and was his friends' go-to person for film critiques. He was also a football fan and lover of fine food and drink. He liked to travel to exotic places all around the world and vacationed at most of the national parks in the United States. He kept informed of up-to-the-minute national and international current affairs.
He will be missed by countless friends and extended family. His nieces and nephews adored their Uncle Bob and his irreverent sense of humor.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Mary Elizabeth ("Susie") Kentis of Vienna and his daughter Samantha Kentis Connelly (Ryan) of Falls Church.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Bob was born in Morristown, New Jersey. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers University and a master's degree from the Maxwell Graduate School of Citizenship and Public Affairs from Syracuse University. Before joining the CIA in 1963 he was a studio manager for ABC television in New York City.
Bob worked as an intelligence officer for the CIA as both a staffer and a contractor for 50 years. He had tours of duty in Laos and Australia, and served as the CIA liaison officer at Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska.
Bob loved movies and was his friends' go-to person for film critiques. He was also a football fan and lover of fine food and drink. He liked to travel to exotic places all around the world and vacationed at most of the national parks in the United States. He kept informed of up-to-the-minute national and international current affairs.
He will be missed by countless friends and extended family. His nieces and nephews adored their Uncle Bob and his irreverent sense of humor.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Mary Elizabeth ("Susie") Kentis of Vienna and his daughter Samantha Kentis Connelly (Ryan) of Falls Church.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Dear Susie, You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish I could be there with you. With Sincere Sympathy, Jane Murphy
Dear Susie and Samantha, It has been an honor to blend our families over the past few years and get to know Bob. He has had an interesting and good life and was enriched with 2 beautiful women to share it with. We have great memories and will be saving the turkey leg for him this Thanksgiving! Much love and prayers, Jack & Rose
Samantha, I am truly sorry for your loss. God will definitely show you the way to smiling again. I know this experience will change you forever. Just remember all the good times you shared with your father and all the love he gave you throughout the years. He is not gone. He will live in your heart forever. My Deepest Condelencs, Andrea
Susie, I’m so saddened by your loss. You have always been so supportive of everyone of your friends. Please know, we’re all here for you and praying for you and your family.
Susie and Samantha, Very sad and very frustrated that we did not get together these past few years. It has been on our minds but grandchildren and other distractions seem to have gotten in the way. Nevertheless we will find time to get together with you and share the fond memories we have with you and Bob. All our love, Jim and Barbara
Dear Susie, Deeply saddened by the shocking news of Bobs passing. He was a special guy and a truly delightful friend. I treasure his memory, and send heartfelt sympathy to you and Samantha.
You have been in our prayers. We wish you comfort and peace.
Dear Susie, I was sorry to read about Bob’s passing. My thoughts are with you and your family at this sad time. Bob shared his love of life and family, including his sense of humor, with everyone around him. While in Australia, I’ll never forget hearing his voice on the radio on my way to work in the morning. Looking for an American accent, he was asked by the Canberra Times to portray a Neil Armstrong-like character who was selling a “ship” (actually, a spaceship) in the classified section of the newspaper! Bob will be missed.
Susie and Family, I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Barbara and Family
Susie and Samantha – My heartfelt condolences for your loss. What a shock! I enjoyed first getting to know Bob when we were the DI Reps in Career Training Division back in 1989, looking for outstanding applicants for the program. Bob was such a good judge of potential candidates–and so much fun! And, we shared a love for those exotic but horribly built British sports cars–hey, Bob, hope they have Jag E-types up there in heaven! We also shared a common academic background at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. He was a great friend and colleague. I’m sorry we were not able to connect after retirement.
Susie and Samantha, It was a pleasure to have known such a charismatic and vivacious man like Bob! What a wonderful legacy he left behind. We are thankful for the time we got to spend with him and know he is resting at peace.
Dear Samantha and Mrs. Kentis, We would like to convey sincerest condolences. Although we only met your dad once, we very much enjoyed talking with him. He has had an amazing life and a truly wonderful family. You can be assured that your dad will be with you in everything that you do, as he has always been. Our sincere apologies that we will miss the services this weekend, because we do not arrive back in Washington DC until Saturday evening. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers, Frank and Robin
Susie and Samantha, Jon and I remember his dry and funny sense of humor. He could always make us laugh. Our love to both of you. You were the love of his life! Love, Bonnie and Jon
Susie: We knew you and Bob, along with Tony and Gwen many years ago. (We=Tony Goldin) I was always happy to see both of you at a gathering knowing that there would be plenty of laughs with Bob and warmth and graciousness with you. “Irreverent” is the word and we loved it and him. God Bless
In this difficult time, please know my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dear Susie- I was so sad to hear from Tony this afternoon of Bob’s passing. I send you my deepest sympathy and much love, Marge
Dear Susie, I am so saddened to learn of Bob’s passing. My sincerest condolences to you and to Samantha and Ryan. Bob and I first met 47 years ago on the Viet Nam task force at CIA…and he dubbed me “the singer” and spent years tossing paper cups at me…he sat behind me. Oh my gosh, we were young and full of vitality and fun. I have nothing but wonderful memories of him and his friendship (and yours as well). My “song” today is one of sadness but remembrance of wonderful times! Love, Tony
Susie and Samantha, My heart goes out to you at the loss of your beloved husband and father. We, his friends, will miss him terribly and will never forget him. Be assured of my prayers for you and for Bob’s journey to the Lord.
Dear Susie and Samantha…you have never met me, but I am Bob’s cousin on the Cavanaugh side of the family….I have not seen Bob in over 50 years, but kept up on where he was and his family and work through Shirley, MaryLouise and now AJ Horan…I was so sorry to hear of his passing…he and Eddie Cullinan and my brother, Joe, were all the same age and are now all together again in heaven…time passes too quickly and I only wish that we had gotten to see each other over the years and that I had gotten to meet you both. My condolences are with you …time does heal the pain, but the memories are always there. God bless you both. Cousin Mary Cavanaugh Graves
Dear Susie, I was saddened to receive Tony’s message of Bob’s passing. My first thought was what a shame that a man who made all those around him smile would leave us far too soon. Bob had a gift of bestowing warmth and happiness to his friends. He spread joy and we liked being with him. He made us feel good whenever we were in his company. You have my sympathy. John
I was sorry to hear about Bob. I very much wanted to be present at his funeral but I was unable to make it. Sending warm thoughts to you and your daughter. I have many happy memories of working with Bob. I hope to have the opportunity to see you again soon.