Lawrence DeSantis

Lawrence DeSantis, 85, of Prince's Bay, a retired managing editor of United Press International and a respected figure in the fast-paced and competitive world of news agencies, died Saturday in Lutheran Hospital, Brooklyn.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he had lived in the same house in Dyker Heights for 53 years before moving to Prince's Bay three years ago.

Mr. DeSantis graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and earned his bachelor's degree in English from Brooklyn College.

He and AnnMarie Monteleone met while they were in elementary school, became high school sweethearts, and were married 64 years ago in Regina Pacis R.C. Church, Brooklyn.

Mr. DeSantis had a 40-year career with UPI, based in Manhattan but traveling the world to cover national and international events and breaking news. He retired in 1986.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Brooklyn.

Mr. DeSantis relished time spent with his family. A sports enthusiast, he rooted for the New York Yankees. He also enjoyed music, movies, MGM musicals, playing cards and literature.

He was a parishioner of St. Bernadette R.C. Church, Brooklyn.

His daughter, Deborah DeSantis, died in 2012.

Surviving, along with his wife, AnnMarie, are his daughters, Barbara Amari and Lorraine Boccia; his brother, Frank, and five grandchildren.

The funeral will be Wednesday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church, Pleasant Plains. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, also Pleasant Plains.

Services: 10:30AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Thomas the Apostle RC Church on Wednesday, September 9, 2015. Burial at Resurrection Cemetery.

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Tuesday, September 8,2015 from 2-9PM.

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: St. Thomas The Apostle RC Church