Rocco Joseph Logozzo

On May 29, 1935 in New York City, NY, Rocco Joseph Logozzo entered this world as the bouncing baby boy of Joseph and Angelina Logozzo. Rocco was the 8th of 15 children and he grew up the son of a grocer who spent his childhood between the streets of Brooklyn and the farmland of South Florida. And on June 6, 2024 in Burleson, TX Rocco Joseph Logozzo left this world for Heaven.
Rocco, also known as Daddy, Grandpa, Papa, D, Rocky, Rock, Uncle Rocky and his favorite name Rocco Darling, was a genuine tough guy. The kind that never talked about it but was absolutely all about it. Rocco’s life was chock full of adventure, he traveled the country on trains and did various jobs throughout his journey. He had jobs that ranged from a boxer to pin setter in a bowling alley. He had jobs that were completely on the up and up…DuPont to jobs that we still aren’t supposed to discuss. But his greatest adventures started at a USO dance during the Koren War.
Rocco signed up to serve as one of Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children, you know a crayon eating, oorah hollering Marine. He was a proud Korean War Vet. Where was deployed to Korea for 18 months. After leaving Korea He was transferred to Southern California It was during this time he decided to go ogle pretty girls at a USO dance and he met the prettiest of all the girls, Valerie (or as he always called her Val). Rocco and Val met in the little under 2 months between her birthday and his, which made Val the beautiful, mysterious older woman. But one look at her as she started swaying across the dance floor and Rocco was hooked. He followed young Valerie Reardon off that dance floor and continued following her for the rest of Val’s life. That was May of 1955 and at the end of November of 1955 the two were married. They remained married, in love and devoted to each other until Val, ever the impatient one left for Heaven before him. But even the distance between Heaven and Earth didn’t sway Rocco’s devotion and love to Val, as even in his final days he remained devoted to and eager to see his sweetheart again.
After leaving the Marine Corps, the young couple started their life in Santa Monica, CA and later moved to Sacramento, CA. It was in California where Rocco was blessed with 3 loud, rambunctious and sometime wild young men and 1 even louder young lady. Rocco was proud as he could be of his children and the bond between father and children was strong. The family left California and headed to New York, back to his roots and his large extended family. After a bit of time, they journeyed back to California but eventually moved on and landed in South Florida, South Miami Heights to be exact.
The children grew and the family settled in. Rocco, sometimes to his chagrin, inherited more children… Steve, Jeff, Larry, and Paul, young boys from the neighborhood that over the years came to be as much of his boys as his own. More of Rocco’s family moved down and the times they were grand. There were cookouts at Aunt Rosie and Uncle Sammy’s house. There was working and “hanging out” with Johnny DiGiacomo. There were great times had at Aunt Blondie and Uncle Johnny’s place. There were cruises with all his sisters and trips to New York with his brothers. There was crabbing at Bayfront, drinks and dancing at the Italian American club and New Years Eve parties at the country club. There were trips to and from Texas, California and all the other places Val wanted to go. Through it all Rocco watched his children grow and eventually have their own children.
The years progressed and Rocco found his boys were all living in Texas and so once again, Rocco, ever the intrepid traveler, headed west. Rocco and Val left the Heights and landed in Burleson. Here in Burleson life slowed down. Rocco had retired from DuPont but for everyone who knew Rocco you know that acting retired was never in the cards for Rocco. Back to work he went, but this time Rocco got to work with his 3 boys and once again times were grand. As time does it made everyone older Rocco, Val, the kids, the grandkids and even great grandkids were now part of the family. The family times were now cookouts at his house and fireworks at his son Michael’s house, picnics at the lake but still Rocco was surrounded by family. There were less road trips, but he still would manage to pull off his legendary road trips occasionally, you see Rocco was the king of no-doze. But in 2021 Val made the journey to Heaven and Rocco decided home was where he wanted to be, since that’s where he felt Val the strongest. Rocco’s family rallied and they came to him…his children and grandchildren, his nieces and nephews, his sisters and all his other family. Family was at the heart of everything Rocco did as his family was the most important thing to him and when Rocco took his final adventure he was surrounded by his family.
Rocco Joseph Logozzo departed this Earth at 9:20 pm on June 6, 2024. He was predeceased by the love of his life Valerie. His beloved mother Angelina and his father Joseph. His brothers Frankie, Willie, Jimmy, Anthony, Michael and his sisters Rosie, Ida, Marian, Blondie.
He is survived by: His brothers Ralphie and Johnny and his sisters Yolanda, Angie, and Nancy.
His children Rocco (Charity) Logozzo, Vincent (Angie) Logozzo, Michael (Donna) Logozzo, Cristina (Jim) Cottingham. Grandchildren: Jennifer Veber, Alexis (Mike)Hendrikse, Valerie (Jeremy) Freeman, Christina (Will) Wiegand, Vincent (Victoria) Logozzo, Cleve (Matt) Miller, Anthony (Raleigh) Logozzo, Justina (Yousef Sheikh) Logozzo, Jerrett Waldrop, Michael Logozzo, Angelina (Joshua) Ramon and Lorraine (Colby) Oliver.
Great-grandchildren: Kylie (Devin) Ray, Rebecca Veber, Julie Hendrikse, John Hendrikse, Ryan Wiegand, Carter Logozzo, Luke Wiegand, Paisleigh Prichard, Juniper Freeman, Judd Freeman, Josiah Ramon, Leighton Logozzo and Giovanni Ramon. Great-great grandson: Austin Ray. His many nieces and nephews and his “adopted” sons and daughters.