Rocco A. Celeste, MDA regional director, firefighter
Nov. 17, 1921 — Aug. 13, 2008
Rocco A. Celeste, the regional director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Jerry Lewis Telethon for a quarter of a decade, died Wednesday in his East Aurora home. He was 86.
Mr. Celeste was born in Buffalo and grew up on the city’s West Side. During World War II, he served as a private first class in the Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
After the war, Mr. Celeste became a Buffalo firefighter. He also began doing volunteer work for muscular dystrophy.
He developed the idea for the “Fill the Boot” fundraising campaign, which caught on nationally. The Muscular Dystrophy Association recruited him to become a regional director for the Buffalo area.
After 25 years, Mr. Celeste retired from the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He then put his fundraising skills to work again by becoming the national telethon director for the March of Dimes, a position he held for 10 years.
Mr. Celeste also served as president and director of the Erie Community College Foundation. He was past president of the St. Francis Geriatric Center Foundation.
He was an auxiliary member of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and was a member of the Buffalo Canoe Club.
Survivors include his wife of 28 years, the former Suzanne Childs; a daughter, Laurie Olivia; two sons, Rocco and James; a brother, Jean Coniglio; and a sister, Alice Luongo.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a. m. Aug. 30 in St. Mary Catholic Church, 6919 Transit Road, Swormville.
