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June 9, 2011
Services
A memorial service to celebrate Rocky’s life is being planned for later this year. Details will be posted here when available. Friends are encouraged to leave a message of condolence for the family here.
Husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather
Rocco P. Zappile, age 90 of Wayne, died peacefully on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at his home in Wayne.
Rocky, as he preferred to be called, was born in the Bronx, NY, and grew up in a neighborhood not far from Arthur Avenue. He took up golfing at a very young age and caddied while he was in high school. He was such a good player that many believed he could have gone pro. He absolutely loved the game of golf and continued to play throughout his life. During his retirement, he played at least once a week.
It was back in the Bronx where Rocky met his wife Esther. One day, in the local delicatessen, Esther said to one of her friends “I’m going to marry that boy someday.” That day came in 1944 when Rocky was home on leave while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. They married, but didn’t get to enjoy a honeymoon as Rocky had to get right back to the Army. They lived for a few years in San Antonio, Texas while Rocky finished up his service, and then returned to the east coast. While in the Army, Rocky served with the 893rd Signal Company Depot's Aviation Division in Burma and India, as well as Africa. He was a skilled welder and mechanic, capable of fixing anything, and he proved to be a valuable asset to the Army. He was awarded the American Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, the Good Coduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Rocky and Esther first settled in Bridgeport, Connecticut before moving to Paramus in 1951. They raised their children there while Rocky started his own business designing, fabricating and installing commercial kitchens. He could make anything and most of his work was in stainless steel. He even brought his kids along on installations, just so he could spend some time with them – he was always working. His priority was to be a good provider to his family and if that meant he had to work three jobs, then that’s exactly what he would do. He took excellent care of Esther and the kids, doing whatever it took. In 1985 they retired to Forked River, NJ and then to Boca Raton, Florida in 1991. Sadly, Esther passed away in 2001 after fifty seven years of marriage to her best friend.
Rocky also had a sense of adventure, travelling quite a bit in his retirement. He had been to Singapore and more recently to Alaska on a cruise. Just six years ago, at the age of 84, Rocky took a helicopter ride over an Alaskan Glacier and landed on the ice. He was unable to get out of the helicopter to walk around with the other tourists and his daughter, but that didn’t matter to him. He loved every minute of it.
Rocky is survived by his three devoted children; Ronald and his wife Arlene of Connecticut, Roxanne and her fiancé Nick of New Jersey and John and his wife Lois, also of New Jersey. He is also survived by his brother, Ernest and his wife Glenda of North Carolina, eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Angela and his brother Edward.
Donations in Rocky’s memory may be made to Fisher House, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850 or you may visit www.fisherhouse.org.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A memorial service to celebrate Rocky’s life is being planned for later this year. Details will be posted here when available. Friends are encouraged to leave a message of condolence for the family here.
June 9, 2011
Services
A memorial service to celebrate Rocky’s life is being planned for later this year. Details will be posted here when available. Friends are encouraged to leave a message of condolence for the family here.
Husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather
Rocco P. Zappile, age 90 of Wayne, died peacefully on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at his home in Wayne.
Rocky, as he preferred to be called, was born in the Bronx, NY, and grew up in a neighborhood not far from Arthur Avenue. He took up golfing at a very young age and caddied while he was in high school. He was such a good player that many believed he could have gone pro. He absolutely loved the game of golf and continued to play throughout his life. During his retirement, he played at least once a week.
It was back in the Bronx where Rocky met his wife Esther. One day, in the local delicatessen, Esther said to one of her friends “I’m going to marry that boy someday.” That day came in 1944 when Rocky was home on leave while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. They married, but didn’t get to enjoy a honeymoon as Rocky had to get right back to the Army. They lived for a few years in San Antonio, Texas while Rocky finished up his service, and then returned to the east coast. While in the Army, Rocky served with the 893rd Signal Company Depot's Aviation Division in Burma and India, as well as Africa. He was a skilled welder and mechanic, capable of fixing anything, and he proved to be a valuable asset to the Army. He was awarded the American Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, the Good Coduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Rocky and Esther first settled in Bridgeport, Connecticut before moving to Paramus in 1951. They raised their children there while Rocky started his own business designing, fabricating and installing commercial kitchens. He could make anything and most of his work was in stainless steel. He even brought his kids along on installations, just so he could spend some time with them – he was always working. His priority was to be a good provider to his family and if that meant he had to work three jobs, then that’s exactly what he would do. He took excellent care of Esther and the kids, doing whatever it took. In 1985 they retired to Forked River, NJ and then to Boca Raton, Florida in 1991. Sadly, Esther passed away in 2001 after fifty seven years of marriage to her best friend.
Rocky also had a sense of adventure, travelling quite a bit in his retirement. He had been to Singapore and more recently to Alaska on a cruise. Just six years ago, at the age of 84, Rocky took a helicopter ride over an Alaskan Glacier and landed on the ice. He was unable to get out of the helicopter to walk around with the other tourists and his daughter, but that didn’t matter to him. He loved every minute of it.
Rocky is survived by his three devoted children; Ronald and his wife Arlene of Connecticut, Roxanne and her fiancé Nick of New Jersey and John and his wife Lois, also of New Jersey. He is also survived by his brother, Ernest and his wife Glenda of North Carolina, eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Angela and his brother Edward.
Donations in Rocky’s memory may be made to Fisher House, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850 or you may visit www.fisherhouse.org.
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