Gary Blain Trento, 77, of Skaneateles, passed away Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, at home after a long illness. Born in Syracuse, he graduated from the University of Virginia and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at the Pratt Institute in New York City. He taught painting and drawing at Syracuse University for 39 years, retiring in 2005. He continued teaching atelier workshops in the converted barn behind his home until 2017. He was a highly accomplished artist, showing his paintings and drawings in dozens of galleries and museums in the United States and Canada. Among his commissions was a portrait of SU Chancellor Nancy Cantor unveiled at the university in 2005. He attended the opening of his final exhibition, a retrospective of his paintings, at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, on Aug. 30. He loved to travel, teaching at SU’s London program in the 1987-88 academic year, then bicycling with his beloved wife, Jill Doscher, from London to Florence, Italy, where he taught in the summer program.
Beyond his mastery in the classroom and studio, his consummate skill on his Ferris lawn mower and uncanny ability to create the perfect gin and tonic were legendary.
He is survived by his wife, Jill; his son, Matthew Trento (Paul Rodrigues), of Boston; his daughters, Jessica Trento, of McMinnville, Ore., and Rebecca Arribasplata (Omar) of Delray Beach, Fla.; and his granddaughters, Isabella and Sofia Arribasplata. A private celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to HumaneCNY or the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
