Vincent Rocco

Father and husband, is survived by his wife Angelina, his daughter Adele Porzio, sons Vincent, Victor, Vernon and Vaughn, and four grandchildren Karen Starrett, Mary O'Neal, Gina Hunn, and Christina Decastris. He was born in Pozzuoli, Italy in 1924 and immigrated to the United States in 1929, with his father Biaggio, mother Adele, two brothers Louis and Charlie, and sister Livia. One sister Zizina remained in Italy. All have predeceased him. He lived in NYC where he met Angie, Vince served in the United States Army during WWII in the Third Army and saw action in the Ardennes Forest during the Battle of the Bulge. He remained in Germany after the surrender during the Allied occupation. After returning to the US and being honorably discharged he married Angie and was employed as a technician for RCA, Reeves Instruments, and ITT. After several years he decided to attend college at night, graduating from Newark College of Engineering with a degree in electrical engineering in 1963. Vince worked for CBS in New York City as a Systems Engineer responsible for designing and implementing innovative communication networks and RF systems. He left CBS to join Nurad in Baltimore where he continued to design cutting edge communication and antenna systems for both the broadcast industry and the Defense Department. His initial retirement came at the age of 67, but it was temporary. Not one to sit idle he soon re-entered the work force at AAI and again was involved in what was advanced technology at the time for the broadcast industry, as well as the defense industry, including some of the original Remotely Piloted Vehicles now known as drones. To some of his peers he was known as “the father of modern broadcast television.” After five years his second retirement occurred. Again, he was unable to adjust to a sedentary lifestyle and soon started substitute teaching at a local high school. He subbed for four years and then accepted a job as a full time technology teacher which lasted for one school year. Now 85 he decided it was time to actually retire. Since then and until his health problems started, he has been engaged in reading and following his beloved New York Yankees.

Vincent Rocco

September 3, 1924 - August 13, 2017