Obituary of Charles B. Lestin

Charles B. Lestin Charles Benjamin Lestin died peacefully on November 6, 2012. "Chuck" was born on July 9, 1925 in Rochester, NY to Bessie & Max Lestin and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School. Chuck served his country as a member of the "Greatest Generation", stationed on the island of Guam during WWII. Following his return, he married the love of his life, Dr. Elise Rosenbaum and enrolled at The University of Rochester. After graduating in 1950 with a BS in Chemical Engineering, he and Elise began to raise their family and Chuck began a 35 year career at Eastman Kodak. He retired at the age of 55 and enjoyed the next several decades by splitting time between Rochester and Florida enjoying grandchildren, golf and giving to others through donating his time and money. He was predeceased by his parents Max and Bessie Lestin; father-in-law, Jack M. Rosenbaum. Survived by his loving wife, Elise of 65 years; mother-in-law, Shirley Rosenbaum; son, Eric (Jani) Lestin; daughter, Marti (Burt) Kleinman; grandchildren, Jill (Gabe)Pritz, David (Jill) Kleinman, Jon (Steph) Kleinman, Abby and Lauren Lestin; great granddaughter, Isabel; sister, Miriam (Sol) Ahitow and brother-in-law, Richard (Judy) Rosenbaum; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. Funeral Services will be held on Friday (Nov. 9th) at 10:30 AM at Brighton Memorial Chapel, 3325 Winton Road South. Burial at Mt. Hope Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends at 81 Falcon Trail, Pittsford (Click for a Map to the House) on Friday 2-4 PM and Saturday 6-8 PM. Eric’s Eulogy for his DAD Good morning. I am Eric, Chuck’s son. Thank you all for being here and honoring my dad and honoring us with your presence. Dad was a member of what Tom Brokaw has described as The Greatest Generation. He served his country in WWII in the South Pacific so he was a hero as a navy man but he was more of a hero to his family and to me. Above all he loved my mother; she was the light of his life. Anything that she wanted he provided. She suggested it might be nice to have a finished basement and a rack to hang her off-season clothes in the corner. The next thing we knew he had built, by himself, a cedar closet. Mom said that it kind of stuck out so after awhile he had paneled the entire basement into a playroom with shuffleboard and ping pong. It happened again in the den when Mom wanted a television cabinet; soon we had an entire wall unit for the TV and Stereo and books and pictures. Then Mom decided that my bedroom seemed bare and suggested extending my closet and building a desk where I could pretend to do my homework. Before long I had wall to wall storage, a desk and two bureaus. Next, Mom decided that she didn't want me playing hockey at Cobb's Hill so soon I had an ice rink in the back yard. Then Mom didn't want the screened-in porch anymore and soon we had an extended dining room (he needed some help on this one but only with the heat, electricity and air conditioning). These are the things that I remember about a life well lived. Above all else about my Dad, I remember how he treated everyone with respect. If you cleaned his golf shoes, if you were his waiter, if you delivered his mail or if you were the CEO of Kodak you were treated the same. I remember a birthday dinner at The Spring House. All the aunts and uncles and cousins were there and I don't recall whose birthday we were celebrating but I do remember sitting across from my Dad and he ordered a steak. The waitress brought everyone their order and set a lovely plate down in front of Dad with a large piece of grilled chicken. I said, Dad, you ordered a steak. The waitress looked kind of ashen but he defused it by saying, "this is perfect" thank you so much. He is at peace now and free from pain. Over time our pain of losing him will subside and we will remember him for the Greatest Dad from the Greatest Generation. Thank you. Home Brighton, New York Birthplace Rochester, New York Donations Donations can be made to the: