Mr. Dante John Cosentino Jr. passed away June 19 following a short battle with cancer. He was 79 years old.
Born July 6, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri, he was a U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, philanthropist and businessman who helped establish Cosentino’s Food Stores. The grocery company began in 1948 as a very small store operated by brothers Jim and Jerry Cosentino, whom Dante Cosentino later joined, as did sisters, Mickey, Mary and Joyce.
Mr. Cosentino continued to provide leadership and council as the business was passed to the second generation of the family, including Donnie, David, Victor, Jamie, Jimmy and John Cosentino.
The company employs more than 4,000 people today in the greater Kansas City area and operates 27 locations, including Price Chopper, Sun Fresh and Apple Market as well as the Cosentino’s Fine Foods Downtown Market and Brookside Market stores.
Mr. Cosentino was an honored member of the Retail Grocers Association of Kansas City, Associated Wholesale Grocers and Allied Food Club.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Sue (Rellihan) Cosentino; five children; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Jerry; sisters, Mickey and Joyce; brother-in-law, Dan; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Services were held June 23 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Cosentino’s honor to Heartland Hospice, Bishop Sullivan Center, Wayside Waifs or St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
