Richard Rocco, Sr.
Of All His Successes and Affiliations, His Most Prized Possessions Were Always Members of His Family Both Immediate and Extended.
Richard S. Rocco, Sr. of Everett and Harwich Port passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 13 after a long battle with numerous health issues.
The beloved husband of Barbara A. (Dorion) for over 55 years, he was the loving father of Richard S. Jr. and his wife, Daniela of Lynnfield, brother of Virginia Fiske of Nahant, Grace Pedneault of Everett, the late Horace A. “Sonny” and Henry J.”Hank” both formerly of Everett. Richard is also survived by his cherished granddaughters, Sara, Emma and Lily Domenica, all of Lynnfield, as well as nephews, many cousins and many many friends. He was the youngest son of the late Salvatore Rocco and Grace (Fiorentino).
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Anthony Church, Everett, Friday, Sept. 18 at 10:30 a.m. with a committal service to immediately follow in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham MA 02452.
As a young man growing up on the streets of Everett, he was forever having fun with his pals on the old sandlot baseball and neighborhood football teams. As he matured he became a “Double Eagle” which is the term given to graduates of both Boston College High School and then Boston College. Richard was the first college graduate of his family.
Upon graduation from college, he began what would become an incredible business career. It was a career that started as a truck driver for the Anheuser-Busch Company and ended with an early retirement earned from selling two very successful baking supply companies, Eagle Egg Corp and The American Yeast Companies. This provided roughly three decades of retirement splitting time between Florida, Cape Cod and, of course, his birth place of Everett for the holiday season with relatives and friends. Along the way to retirement, he even tried a hand in the restaurant business with his wife, Barbara running the old “Chuck Wagon” in Harwich Port.
He was successful in most everything he put his mind to and he took great pride in savoring the sweet rewards that came as a result of those successes.
Prior to entering the business arena, Richard served his country twice in the US Navy during both World War II and then the Korean War. He was elected president of both the New England Wholesale Bakers Association and The New England Retail Bakers Association. He was a long time member of the Allen Harbor Yacht Club where he docked his boat “Double R” for many years. A member of the Seagate Beach Club in Delray Beach, Florida and a former member of the old Wychmere Harbor Club and The Wyndemere Bluffs Association, both in Harwich Port. He was a lifetime member of the Everett/Saugus Lodge of Elks, The Italian American Club of Everett, The PSN Club, The Seven C’s club and an associate member of the Everett E Club. But of all his successes and affiliations his most prized possessions were always members of his family both immediate and extended. Arrangements are by Rocco, Carr & Henderson Funeral Home: www.roccofuneralhomes.com.