Arthur Aloysius Armento
Jan 26, 1940 - May 9, 2026
Arthur “Art” Armento was born in Manhattan on January 26, 1940, to Ferrer "Fred" Armento and Eleanora (Florio) Armento. In 1944, the family welcomed Art’s younger brother, Edmund “Ed" Armento, and later moved from the Bronx to Alpine, NJ, where the boys were able to enjoy the freedom and opportunities of suburban life.
Art attended Seton Hall Prep from 1953 to 1957 and went on to the University of Notre Dame, where he was grateful to continue his education alongside several close high school friends. He graduated in 1961 and immediately started serving in the United States Marine Corps, an experience that shaped his discipline, sense of responsibility, and commitment to service.
After meeting following a Notre Dame vs. St. John’s men’s basketball game, Art courted Doris Ortiz for exactly one year, and they married on December 19, 1965, in Queens, NY. They welcomed two children, Paul (b. 1966) and Diane (b. 1970), who were always central to their lives. As a young family, they lived first in Fort Lee, NJ, then in Waldwick, NJ, before settling in Franklin Lakes in 1980.
Family life was at the heart of who Art was. He and Doris took great pride in creating a warm, supportive home and truly cherished the memories they made raising their children. During their 42 years of marriage, they enjoyed a close companionship and shared many interests, including golf, tennis, skiing, dancing, and traveling out west and to Europe on ski vacations.
A natural salesman with a gift for connecting with people in an authentic and meaningful way, Art first worked with his dad, Fred, before becoming the owner of Armento Sales, Inc., serving as a sales representative for several large-scale automatic door companies in the NY/NJ area. An incredibly hard worker, always reliable and with keen attention to detail, he built strong relationships with colleagues and clients who trusted his word and valued his integrity.
Art remained physically active throughout his life. In the 1970s, he enjoyed swimming long distances in nearby lakes for fitness and was a dedicated runner, competing in local 5K and 10K races. He also enjoyed family trips to Long Beach Island, loved the ocean, and took pride in teaching his children the best way to ride a wave! In the 1980s, he took up skiing at the prompting of his family and embraced the challenge of learning a new sport in his 40s. Through the last week of his life, Art made it a priority to work out at the gym most days of the week - lifting weights or putting in time on the elliptical. Maintaining his fitness was important to him, and his commitment to staying active and healthy reflected his overall approach to life: steady, disciplined, and fully engaged.
Known as Artie by those closest to him, he maintained lasting friendships with his Seton Hall Prep and Notre Dame classmates and took great joy in keeping his family connected to the friends who meant so much to him. His love of jazz was shared with family and friends and, and later in life, his passion for opera led him to purchase season tickets to the Metropolitan Opera House for over a dozen years. Art also had a somewhat hidden artistic talent, with an ability to sketch profiles with ease and paint outdoor nature scenes in oil, which were proudly displayed in his home. And finally, his passion for Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish football team was well known, and he enjoyed sharing his love (and frustration) about the team’s results with any captive audience!
Art’s love of golf began shortly after he got married, and from that point on, the game became a constant in his life. He spent countless hours working to improve his swing and master his short game, and he took incredible pride in meticulously cleaning his clubs and keeping a well-organized golf bag stocked with the appropriate number of balls, tees, and, of course, golf clubs. Just as he was devoted to his family, friendships, and work, Art showed unwavering commitment to golf—as a player, a coach, an official, and a dedicated member of the golf community.
After retiring from his primary career, Art “failed retirement” in the best possible way by deepening his involvement in the sport he loved. He served as an assistant golf coach at St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, NY) and as the tournament official for the Ivy League championships. His work with the Metropolitan PGA Junior Golf Tournaments expanded over time and later took on a role in outside operations at Glen Arbor Golf Club. Art was proud of the integrity he brought to these roles. His knowledge of the rules, his reliability, and his genuine desire to help others, combined with a strong customer-service mentality, shone through in his interactions with junior golfers, their families, and colleagues.
Art was profoundly grateful for his close relationship with his younger brother, Ed, and for the loyal, loving companionship of Tiffany Marrero over the last 15 years of his life. He cherished the time he spent with his son, Paul - sharing music, learning piano from him, and enjoying delicious meals and deep conversation. He also treasured his visits to Portsmouth, NH, to spend time with his daughter, Diane, his son-in-law, Steve, and his granddaughters, Lauren (b. 2005) and Sienna (b. 2007), who lovingly called him Pop Pop. The role of Pop Pop was one of his greatest joys, and he delighted in being present in his granddaughters’ lives.
Building lifelong friendships, giving back to the golf community he loved, staying active, and spending time with his family and friends brought Art his greatest joy. He will be remembered for his warmth, integrity, dedication, and the many lives he touched along the way.
Remarks by Diane Armento Metcalf
In memory of her father, Arthur Armento
(January 26, 1940 – May 9, 2026)
~ Art’s Celebration of Life ~
July 16, 2026
Glen Arbor Golf Club, Bedford Hills, NY
Many of you know my dad through his passion and love of golf – his incredible knowledge of the rules and the value he placed on respect for the game, but there was a lot more to him that we captured in his incredible “bio” so please take a copy and read about his varied interests, abilities and incredible journey. While many of you knew about him as meticulous, hard-working and values-driven and as fun-loving, opinionated and engaging (often with complete strangers), he also liked to offer his opinion and advice – often unsolicited.
During my first two years at the University of Michigan, my dad wrote dozens of letters with advice about balancing academics while excelling in competitive NCAA DI gymnastics -- as well as tips on friendships, money, relationships, and life. These were handwritten letters on simple white copy paper. He put pen to paper in his classic script, shared updates on his and my mom’s life as “empty nesters”, talked about upcoming visits to Ann Arbor, and offered simple reflections — all sprinkled with a bit of humor, slightly self-deprecating, and reflective of the hard lessons he’d learned.
For those of you who are familiar with Art’s positivity protocol -- a mindset practice that can be applied to all aspects of life -- which he created to help others on the golf course, I think you will hear threads of this same perspective through his advice. So you’re about to hear some pearls of wisdom from Art, which can be applied to your life today and are as relevant today as they were close to 40 years ago. I have summarized my Dad’s “lessons” from his letters in a “Top 10” format:
#10. Don’t worry about social acceptance. Be your true self.
“If you feel the need for the approval of others or the desire to have others around you reinforce your self‑worth and provide you with social acceptance...while that can feel nice, it is simply not necessary. Nor is it healthy to look to others to validate your true value. If you are not a part of an ‘inner circle’ or a clique or a select group, don’t worry about it. It doesn’t in any way detract from your self‑worth or your capabilities. Don’t think about pleasing other people to be accepted. Step into what you believe and be true to yourself. Be your authentic self. Be a leader in this way and others will follow and flock to you.”
#9. Lighten up and enjoy these years – you won’t get them back.
“Lighten up, find joy in the experience and enjoy your four years of college – they are years you will never have again in your life – cherish them, stay present and enjoy the moment!”
#8. Real friendships take time, shared experiences, and openness.
“Don’t expect to form really close friendships right away. They take time and mutual investment. Friendships form over shared experiences, investment in the relationship, an openness to each other and building of trust. This can lead to genuine friendships that can last a lifetime. You don’t have to be perfect and guarded. Don’t worry about what to say and what you should do. Just be genuine. And be open to meet new people, you never know where a new friendship will show up.”
#7. Ability and hard work pay off – but make sure you find the JOY!
“Remember that you have strong athletic ability and if you consistently do the work and keep the right mindset, it will pay off. Maximize your ability, your talent and your commitment to your goals– but ensure that you are enjoying what you do – finding the joy in your sport, in each practice, and appreciating the opportunity to compete. Also find the joy in your friendships in and out of your sport... the joy in learning and the opportunity to grow and stretch and experience new opportunities.”
#6. Get the most out of your education, but GPA is not everything
“The point is to do your best in all phases of college life. Get as much life experience as you can, excel in your sport as best you can, have a little fun, make some good lifelong friendships, develop a love for your school...and graduate! A lot of learning in college happens out of the classroom by experiencing life. Your degree opens doors, but once you graduate you will have to continue to prove yourself and your value to your organization. Key factors such as the ability to adapt and learn; ability to relate to peers, supervisors and possibly clients; using effective communication; understanding the value of teamwork; ability to build relationships...these skills are often more important in determining one’s success in your chosen career than your GPA in college.”
#5. Choose a personally rewarding career: don’t let money be your master
“Embark on a personally rewarding career. Don’t limit your options. Never make money your primary goal for your career, but pick a career field based on your interests, abilities, potential for advancement, the amount of free time afforded and ultimately independence so you can have some autonomy in your work and find some balance in your life. The money will come if you excel at what you do.
You will need to be proactive in pursuing your career planning – and you will have to make decisions in these matters based on your own common sense, experience, and an honest evaluation of your own strengths and liabilities. Parents should not push their children in any specific direction because life choices belong to you and not your parents. We are available to support you and for advice if you ask.”
#4. In relationships, be yourself and don’t get too heavy too fast.
“My advice with respect to relationships is to be yourself. Don’t get too heavy or serious at the start. Love and affection should be fun and enjoyable and should not feel like a job or like work or need to be overly analyzed at the start. A relationship that gets too heavy and too serious too fast can become a quick stressor, a burden to both parties, and will have trouble sustaining over time.
Lack of time to naturally cultivate relationships will always be a challenge in college and in life afterwards -- but think about quality time over quantity. Also, realize that we are all different and remember that differences in personalities can really complement each other in relationships. A quiet laid‑back personality does not mean lack of depth, commitment or feeling any more than an outgoing personality indicates greater feeling or sensitivity. We are all different and if it were not so this world would be a very boring place to live in.”
#3. Life is not a bed of roses – so remember your values and that you are loved always.
“Life is not a bed of roses, there are good times and tough times, smooth times and stressful times, and indifferent times. Always remember your own self‑worth, the moral foundation that your parents instilled in you, and, most importantly, Mommy and I both love you, support you and stand behind you in any endeavor. Lean on the support you have and ask for help when you need it.”
#2. Be responsible and independent – even with your ‘plastic habit.’
“I am forwarding you your American Express bill which I feel that you should pay. She who has plastic, but no visible means of support, should still be able to support the plastic habit – which can be an unbelievably bad habit if you do not pay attention throughout your life and spend beyond your means. While money should not drive your career choice, it’s important to have your own source of finances and not be reliant on another person or others. Financial stability gives you a level of freedom in your life.”
#1. When you face setbacks, get tougher, not sadder – play the course and your own mind.
“I don’t want you to get down. Continue with your same work habits. Be excellent in practice. Believe in your ability. The world can be so tough and challenges can seem insurmountable. Life is filled with setbacks and disappointments; the successful person gets tougher with each setback, more determined to overcome and it can help to ‘get madder, not sadder.’ Your attitude needs to be based on confidence and belief.
A golfer plays the course AND plays his or her own mind. If a golfer misses a two‑foot putt on the first hole and he or she gets in the mindset that they are a lousy putter, it sets the tone for many more missed putts and a horrendous day on the golf course. If that same golfer misses that first putt but says, ‘I’m a decent golfer who made a lousy stroke,’ then the round and the day will be salvaged. There is a word that describes the latter thought process and that is the word CONFIDENCE. You must genuinely believe in yourself and move through any errors or mishaps quickly as they were in the past and you cannot do anything about what happened. It’s over. Done. Finished. Think about the next move or action that you can control. See the great performances in your mind before you step up to practice and compete. Go there mentally first. I believe in you.”
Now, did I take all this advice to heart at the time? Likely not, but I can say today that this thinking helped lay a strong foundation for the person I have become, for what I believe in, and how I strive to live my life. My Dad believed in the value hard work, of building long-standing connections with true friends, of finding moments of joy, in being your authentic self, and in getting “madder, not sadder” when life got tough. Most of all, he believed in the people he cared about. So I’d like to end with final bit of advice that my Dad shared with me: “One can be talented, but having the ability to recognize and utilize your talents is a skill in itself, and is a key to finding fulfillment and meaning in life. “
Thank you for being here to honor him today and for allowing him to be a part of your lives.
Eulogy by Daniel C. Frankel
Director of Junior Golf
Metropolitan Section, PGA of America
There are some people in life who are simply impossible to replace. Art Armento was one of those people. To so many of you, he was a mentor, a captain, a colleague, a teacher, a rules official, or a friend. To me... He was “my father.” And every chance he got, he'd introduce me as “my son.”
Now, if you knew Art, you know there wasn't a drop of biology involved in that relationship. But somehow, over the years, it became true anyway. He adopted people with his heart. If Art believed in you, you became family. For more than two decades, Art proudly led the Met PGA Junior Tour Westchester Team and captained the Westchester Tommy Kuhn Cup Team. He didn't just want to win. He expected excellence, preparation, and integrity. And he expected you to earn the privilege of representing Westchester. Because to Art, wearing that uniform meant something. It wasn't just golf. It was pride.
Speaking of golf... I have never—and I truly mean never—met another human being who understood the Rules of Golf the way Art did. The Rules of Golf weren't just something he studied. They were his native language. Art would spend hours debating a ruling... and then quote the exact rule number, the interpretation, the exception, and probably tell you who wrote it, usually before you even finished asking the question. He had this incredible ability to make the most confusing situations crystal clear—and sometimes even more confusing. If you were trying to argue with him, then G-d help you. Because you weren't winning.
Now let's be honest... Art had opinions. Actually... Art had opinions on absolutely everything. Every single morning—usually around five o'clock—I would wake up to a masterpiece 10-page text from Art. Some mornings it was about junior golf. Some mornings it was about the Rules of Golf. Sometimes politics. Sometimes why somebody had completely lost their mind. And almost every morning there was an update about Tiffany. Oh, how he loved Tiffany. Those texts became part of my morning routine. Sometimes I'd laugh. Sometimes I'd shake my head and think, “Here we go again...” But I always read every word. The last one I ever received was Wednesday, April 29. I never imagined there would be a last one. And I can't begin to tell you how much I miss hearing my phone buzz before sunrise and wondering... “What did Art decide to fix today?”
Now... there is another thing we have to acknowledge today. Art appreciated beauty. Especially beautiful women. And because his hearing wasn't always exactly... perfect... he often assumed they couldn't hear what he was saying. Spoiler alert... They could. Every. Single. Word. Watching Art compliment a beautiful woman loud enough for everyone around to hear—and then realizing she had heard every bit of it—was one of life's great forms of entertainment. Thankfully, somehow... he usually got away with it. Mostly because people realized there wasn't a malicious bone in his body. That was just Art. Completely authentic. Unapologetic. And completely himself. But beneath all of the humor... was a man with one of the biggest hearts I've ever known. If Art believed you had talent... If he believed in your character... If he thought you could become something special... there was absolutely nothing he wouldn't do for you. He became completely invested. He would make phone calls. Offer advice. Open doors and introduce you to the right people. Celebrate every success as though it were his own. He genuinely wanted people to become the very best versions of themselves. That was one of his greatest gifts.
But there was another side to that. Because the same passion that made him love people... made him deeply disappointed when they failed to live with integrity. If you ignored the rules... If you cut corners... If you treated people poorly... If you lacked character... Art's respect disappeared just as quickly as it had been earned. He believed that golf was a reflection of life. The rules mattered. Your word mattered. Your integrity mattered. And if those things didn't matter to you... then neither did you. Some thought he was tough. I think he simply cared too much to accept less.
People often ask me what Art meant to me. The answer is simple. Whenever I needed him... he was there. Always. He celebrated my successes. He challenged me when I needed challenging. He protected me when I needed protecting. And one of the things he worried about most... was my health. Every chance he got, he'd remind me... “Take better care of yourself.” “You've got to start taking care of your health.” At the time... I'd smile. I'd nod. Sometimes I'd even pretend I was listening. Looking back... I realize those weren't lectures. They were love. That's how Art showed he cared.
There are people who pass through your life. And then there are people who permanently become part of who you are. Art did that for me. He shaped the way I think. The way I lead. The way I treat young golfers. The way I respect this game. The way I understand loyalty. He taught me that excellence matters. Preparation matters. That character matters. Family isn't always something you're born into. Sometimes... family is something you choose. And somehow... Art chose me. For that... I will be forever grateful.
So, my father... thank you. Thank you for every early morning text. Every lecture. Every laugh. Every argument. Every story. Every lesson. Every opportunity. Every time you believed in me more than I believed in myself. I hope you've already corrected St. Peter on a rules violation. I hope you've found the prettiest angels. And you've probably organized a Tommy Kuhn Cup with Tommy. I'm sure you've already told everyone exactly how they should be running heaven. I already miss you more than words can ever express. Thank you for choosing to be my family. I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you proud.
I love you, my father.