Religion News / Rocco ‘Doc’ LaRocca
Retired dentist, 93, to be honored
NIAGARA FALLS — Call it a meeting of the angels.
Rocco “Doc” LaRocca may be 93, but the retired dentist rocks at Our Lady of Lebanon Food Pantry, and other soup kitchens, where he delivers fresh fruit, produce and bread from area stores.
The cheerful nonagenarian, who likes to laugh, helps the sick and elderly by driving them to doctors appointments and grocery shopping.
He also is a member of the Community Emergency Response Team for disaster preparedness and coordinates with first responders for support and medical care.
For helping the needy in the local community, LaRocca will be honored with this year’s Special Angel Award by Our Lady of Angels Association at the group’s annual luncheon June 24 at Niagara Falls Country Club.
LaRocca is his own best proof that a nutritious diet promotes health.
“Being Italian, we eat a good, basic farmer’s diet,” this amazingly fit volunteer reveals. “I’m given strength through simple food.”
He adds in his booming voice, “I played three sets of tennis the other day with my buddies. God gives me a ‘shot’ each and every morning.
“I’m inspired by St. Vincent de Paul, who led the way to the poor through God. We’re feeding God’s poor.”
Volunteering for the less-fortunate is one way the U. S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War gives back for a relatively lucky life. He was with the Seabees in Guam, for the Iwo Jima campaign and Okinawa.
“[I was] always near the fire,” he said. “Never got burned. I was so fortunate.”
He can still fit into his original uniform for military ceremonies on Memorial Day — his birthday—Veterans Day and at military funerals.
Born in 1916, LaRocca graduated from Niagara University in 1939, marrying the love of his life, Angela Mondi, that year. Their marriage lasted 62 years, until her death seven years ago.
After graduation from Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia in 1943, LaRocca enlisted in the Navy and served as a dental officer in the Pacific Theater. Following military service, he returned to Philadelphia for additional training in dental surgery. From 1951 through 1953, Capt. LaRocca served his country once more, both stateside and overseas in Korea.
At the request of the pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Monsignor Pascal Tronolone, who sought someone to treat the Italian-speaking population, LaRocca returned to Niagara Falls to practice his chosen profession. From the time that the Rev. John Doyle began the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Our Lady of Lebanon Parish in 1976, LaRocca has immersed himself in volunteer work there.
As a member of Divine Mercy Parish, LaRocca is a Eucharistic minister, an altar server and assists at funerals.
Also at the Angels Association luncheon, the Rev. Martin Blake, C. M. Award will be given to Our Lady of Victory Institutions, in recognition of the many social services offered to those in the Western New York community most in need. Receiving the award on behalf of the charitable works offered by the Our Lady of Victory Institutions will be Administrator Monsignor Paul J. E. Burkard.
“The Our Lady of Victory Institutions continues the legacy of Father Nelson Baker, by carrying out the numerous ministries and services to the poor of Western New York that he helped to establish during his lifetime,” notes Sister Patricia Russo, an Our Lady of Angels’ volunteer.
Baker Victory Services, the social-service arm of the institutions, cares for 3,500 children, adults and families each year. It provides preventive, outpatient, educational and residential services in 30 sites across Western New York. More than 1,000 caring staff members help individuals with severe developmental disabilities, teens experiencing a crisis pregnancy, young people with emotional, behavioral and psychiatric challenges, and couples longing to become a family through domestic or international adoption.
“Monsignor Burkard works tirelessly for the cause of Father Baker’s canonization,” Russo said.
In addition, a Good Neighbor Award will recognize DiMino’s Lewiston Tops and the owners — Anthony DiMino, AnMarie Hepfer, and Mary Rose Casero — for the many ways this business has been of assistance to several local, nonprofit organizations and charitable causes throughout the past two decades.
Luncheon reservations may be made by calling 754-0035.
Highlights
In other religion news, the Ken-Ton Family YMCA recently announced the addition of a new summer Day Camp location at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1135 Oliver St., North Tonawanda. YMCA Day Camp is for children 3 to 12 years old and offers many activities, including weekly field trips to places like Fort Niagara, the Buffalo Zoo, Fantasy Island and even an outing to a Bisons Baseball game.
YMCA programs like this offer hands-on activities and opportunities to make new friends and focus on teaching character- development values.
Camp costs $95 a week for YMCA members, $105 a week for nonmembers. It runs from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m. through Sept. 4. To learn more or to register, contact the Ken-Ton Family Branch at 874-5051 or go online to www.ymcabuffaloniagara.org . The YMCA Buffalo Niagara serves more than 100,000 people each year through its offerings in Western New York. Have an idea about for Religion News? Write to: Louise Continelli, The Buffalo News, P. O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240 or e-mail her at
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