Thomas J. Valenti, 78, of Bayside, New York, died September 3, 2026. Born October 14, 1947, Tom lived a life marked by steady devotion—to country, to faith, and to family—offering his time and presence with quiet dignity and enduring care.
Tom graduated from Bayside High School in 1966 and enlisted in the Army. He served for more than 22 years, retiring as a Staff Sergeant after multiple deployments to South Korea and Germany, as well as peacekeeping in the Sinai Desert. His final assignment was in the Chaplain’s Office of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, a fitting close to a military career defined by duty and steadfast service.
Returning to Bayside, Tom continued to live his faith in daily practice and in community. He volunteered at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Bayside as an usher, lector, and member of the folk choir. He read the Bible daily, and he found lasting enjoyment in classical, opera, and folk music—interests that reflected a thoughtful spirit and a reverence for what endures.
Tom also carried a deep sense of responsibility for those he loved. He helped watch over his parents as they aged and took genuine joy in keeping up with the activities and achievements of his family, especially his nieces, nephews, and their children—always attentive, always proud, always present in the ways that mattered.
Tom was the beloved son of the late Gabriel and Antoinette Valenti. Loving brother of Robert Valenti and his late wife Marsha, Alan Valenti and his wife Mary, Richard Valenti, and Andrew Valenti. Cherished uncle of Christine, Carol, Jennifer, and Matthew and the late Robert Eric , and great uncle of Alessandra, Elinor, Aria, Dominic and Oliver. Dear grandson of the late Joseph and Annunziata and the late Joseph and Angela.
Visitation will be held at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 215-35 38th Ave, Bayside, NY 11361, on Wednesday September 16, 2026, from 10:00 am.
Interment will take place at Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Blvd, Calverton, NY 11933, on September 16, 2026, at 12:00 pm.
