a resident of Warwick since 1989, passed away on January 12, 2009 at Westchester Medical Center. He was 90 years old.
Born on March 1, 1918 in Brooklyn, NY (on Rapleye Street), he was the son of the late Tommaso Rocco and Marianna Capazucca Rocco.
Mr. Rocco was a retired Mail Clerk with Ebasco Corporation in New York City. Formerly, he was a Postal Worker with the US Postal Service.
He was a member of St. Stephens RC Church since 1989, where he sang in the choir. He was always singing, whether for the pure joy of it or to entertain others. He dressed like a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day, as well as an Easter bunny and Santa Claus to entertain children and patients in St. Anthony’s Hospital. He was very patriotic and recently entertained over 500 seniors at the annual senior picnic at the Warwick Town Park by singing his favorite song “God Bless America”. He also donated red, white and blue bouquets to St. Anthony’s Hospital for Patriot’s Day. He was an active member of the Warwick Stone House Senior Center. He also started the gardening program at the center and received an award for “Senior of the Year.” He was a key participant in the choral group. An avid bowler, he was instrumental in forming the Warwick senior bowling league at Frontier Lanes in Warwick. Mr. Rocco was a member of the Knights of Columbus and volunteered at the Apple Fest every year to sell raffle tickets, raising thousands of dollars.
He is survived by his wife, Carmela of Warwick; his sister, Lillian of Staten Island; two children: son Joseph Rocco, Jr. and his wife Deborah of Spring Hill, Florida, and daughter Stella Salisbury and her husband Wesley of Warwick. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren: Jimmy Rocco and his wife Starla, Regina Jo McCaughan and her husband Michael, Monique Salisbury, and Daniel Rocco; five great-grandchildren: William Joseph Rocco, Andrea Emily Rocco, Darian Jennifer Rocco, Matthew Brian McCaughan and Jonathan McCaughan.
Visitation will be on Thursday, January 15, and Friday, January 16, from 2-4 & 7-9 pm at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Saturday at St. Stephen’s RC Church. Interment will follow in St. Stephen’s Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be sent to American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220.