She never met a stranger and everyone was a friend. From grocery store clerks, to bank tellers to CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, they shared with her their hopes, their dreams and their aspirations because she was interested and she cared.
Kathleen H. Cinotti passed away peacefully at home in Naples, FL on October 30, 2020. She was born on December 9, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York to John and Margaret (Fahey) Higgins and was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Mary, Joseph, James and Thomas.
Although Kathleen grew up in the city, she spent summers in upstate NY chasing frogs, climbing trees and getting into all kinds of mischief with her younger brother, Tommy. She graduated from St. Saviour High School in Brooklyn and went on to receive her RN from King’s County Hospital and her BS degree from Jersey City State University. On a blind date in 1946 she met the love of her life, Alfonse Cinotti, and they were married in June, 1948. Because Alfonse had a busy medical practice Kathleen put nursing on hold to raise their five children in Glen Ridge, NJ.
Kathleen was a wonderful cook and family gatherings were full of love, laughter and incredible meals as she baked, fried and sauteed her way through every issue of Gourmet Magazine.
Kathleen always found time to give back to her community. She often quoted her father saying: “God didn’t put you on this earth to be an ornament” and so she became active in many organizations including the New Jersey Medical School, the Board of Concerned Citizens and the urban league of Newark. She was one of the quiet movers and shakers for the rights of women and children and fought for access to quality healthcare for the elderly and the indigent. In 1985 she co-founded the Chestnut Street School in Newark that housed pregnant teenagers while providing a full-time academic curriculum.
When Alfonse retired in 1993 he and Kathleen moved to Naples where they continued their volunteer efforts at the Senior Friendship Center and the Bonita Lions Eye Clinic.
Kathleen leaves behind her beloved husband of 72 years, Alfonse A. Cinotti, her children Donald (Paulette) Cinotti, Kathleen (John) Passidomo, Lawrence (Lisa) Cinotti, Carol (Robert Young) Cinotti, William (Lisa) Cinotti, 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Williams Catholic Church on Thursday, November 5th at 9:45 AM and will be live streamed at https://www.saintwilliam.org/. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Florida Lions Eye Clinic, 10322 Pennsylvania Ave, Bonita Springs FL. 34135 or the Cento Amici Alfonse Cinotti Endowed Scholarship Fund at the NJ Medical School, 185 S. Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103.
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