Art Lucchesi

August 1, 1933 –

Art Lucchesi, 79, passed away on Monday, August 27. Formally named Arsete, Art was born in Bagni di Lucca on August 1, 1933, to the late Francesco Lucchesi and late Ormeda Cinquini. At a very young age he moved with his family to Manhattan and later settled in Queens. Having a love for science and math, Art attended Queens College and New York University earning bachelors and masters degrees in mathematics. Following this passion, he became a mathematics professor at Cooper Union in Manhattan, retiring 38 years later in 1996 as the Associate Dean of Engineering and remaining a professor emeritus. Throughout his life, Art donated his time and teaching skills to help others. A considerable amount of his extracurricular effort went in to teaching math to inner city, underprivileged high school students to give them the tools needed to get in to college. In 1974, Art moved to North Plainfield, New Jersey along with his wife and two kids. He became active in the community, joined the local Lion’s Club and later was elected councilman.  Most of his long term friendships were forged from his life in North Plainfield.  Being in New Jersey also got him closer to the ocean which he loved since his childhood, though it should be pointed out that his freestyle swimming made more than one person inquire to see if he needed help, including the family dog. Not given the opportunity to keep pets as a child did not daunt Art in the least, as he would still rescue the neighborhood strays.  As an adult he was allowed to keep his pets and he truly cherished his dogs and his cats.  Other than math and his family (including the family pets), he was passionate about baseball and opera.  Never being able to like the Yankees after his Brooklyn Dodgers left for LA, Art was an avid Mets fan and a baseball lover in general. Having briefly entertained becoming an opera singer prior to choosing mathematics, Art was proud of his tenor voice and his ability to hit “the high C,” and he was even a member of the New Jersey Lyric Opera and Chorus.  His love for singing remained with him until the end. Upon his retirement, Art and his wife began the “snowbird” migration of living in the north during the summer (Wall Township, NJ) and the south in the winter (Apollo Beach, FL).  Eventually, they moved permanently to Florida, resettling in Sun City Center.  With his tenor voice still strong, he would sing at Prince of Peace Catholic Church every Sunday.  He also continued his lifetime of service by teaching math to inmates at a local prison. Art is survived by Sandy, his wife of 50 years; his son Arthur (Stephanie) Lucchesi, daughter Lisa (Kelly) Lucchesi, his brother, Pete (Marlene) Lucchesi, three grandchildren, Dante, Zoe and Ian; and his dog, Holly.
Per the family’s request, in lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association: <a href="http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp" target="_blank">www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp</a>. or Good Samaritan Services, 916 North Pebble Beach Blvd. Sun City Center, FL 33573.