The Gentile family, friends and colleagues mourn the death of Dr. James M. Gentile. He was born August 31, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away January 9, 2026, in Zeeland, Michigan.
Dr. Gentile obtained a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University, a M.S. and Ph.D. from Illinois State University, and undertook postdoctoral studies in the Department of Human Genetics at the Yale University School of Medicine. He joined the Hope College faculty as assistant professor of Biology in 1976. During his 30 year tenure at Hope College, he was a teaching and research professor, chairing the department from 1986 to 1988 and later being appointed dean of the Natural and Applied Sciences from 1988 to 2005 and again from 2013 to 2015. He was honored with the Kenneth Herrick Professor of Biology and was an exchange professor at Meiji Gakuin University, in Tokyo,Japan (1986). Throughout his career, he was actively involved in the scientific community. He was an AAAS Fellow, a National Associate of the National Academies of Sciences, and a National Academies Education Mentor. He was the former Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal, Mutation Research and Past President of the US Environmental Mutagen Society and the International Association of Environmental Mutagen Societies. He served on numerous Boards, including Project Kaleidoscope in Washington, DC, the Biosphere 2 Governing Board in Arizona, the Science Friday Foundation Board in New York, the American Association of Colleges & Universities Project Leap Initiative, and various Committees & Working Groups for the National Academies of Science, the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC, and the World Health Organization Geneva & Lyon.
In 2005, Dr Gentile moved to Tucson, AZ and became president of Research Corporation for Science Advancement, a foundation for science education and research. The foundation provides funding for scientific research and early career development for academic scientists. He remained with the foundation as president until 2013.
As evident by his professional accomplishments, Dr. Gentile’s passion for scientific research, teaching and mentoring was undeniable. Throughout his career, he mentored and trained over 100 students in the area of scientific research, sharing his enthusiasm and dedication to science with his students. Dr. Gentile believed that science knows no boundaries and extended his efforts to international centers of learning in the Netherlands, Mexico, Japan, and Italy. One colleague at Hope College remembers him in this way, “It is always sad to hear of the loss of those who have been a friend and had an impact on one’s career. Jim was a shining star, not only at Hope but at the national level. His vision was to enable faculty to be the best possible teacher and research mentor for students.” A distinguished professor of genetics at the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) offers this remembrance: ”I will be remembering him and thinking of the many things he did for people, including me.” Also at UNAM, a colleague at the Institute of Biomedical Research, aptly captures this difficult moment when she writes, “A dear friend and great teacher is gone… We will remember all the good he did for others.”
Dr. Gentile is survived by his wife, Glenda, son, Michael, and Michael’s wife, Tricia, along with their two daughters, Makayla and Isabella; and his sister Geraldine Wagner. He also had many nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, Michael A. Gentile, and mother, Theresa Russo-Jeras.
Dr. Gentile was a true Chicagoan at heart. He loved the White Sox, and often gleefully reminisced about his teenage years spent selling beer and hotdogs at Comiskey Park
– an opportunity given to him by an uncle who ran the concessions there. He was also a big fan of the Chicago Bears, even though they had a history of losing seasons. He shared season tickets with family and fondly recalled attending the playoff games in 1985, the year the Bears went on to win the Super Bowl. Sadly, he will miss their amazing success in the 2025–2026 season.
A Mass in Dr. Gentile’s honor will take place at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, located at 480 152nd Avenue, Holland, Michigan 49424. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
A celebration of Life will be held at Hope College sometime this spring.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to “Gentile interdisciplinary Lectures” Hope College.
Arrangements are by the Dykstra Funeral Home-Northwood Chapel.
Comments