Theodore William Cocca

On Saturday, October 15, 2022 our beloved Father and Grandpa, Ted Cocca, passed away peacefully at 88 years old. He was born in Springfield, OH on December 2, 1933 to Diodoro and Mary (Esposito) Cocca and was one of seven children.

Ted is survived by his sister Mary Aufderheidi (FL), his children Mark (Julie) Cocca (Phoenix, AZ), Mary (Frank) Beltran (Chandler, AZ), Lynne Cocca (Mesa, AZ), John (Kathy) Cocca (Scottsdale, AZ), Katy (Al) Soto (Scottsdale, AZ), 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and one on the way, many nieces and nephews, and his companion Carlinda Rebelo (Sun City, AZ).

Ted joined the USAF in 1952 and was assigned to the USAFSS which consisted of the Air Force’s most esteemed enlisted recruits. He was stationed at Royal AF Military Base Kirknewton near Edinburgh, Scotland.

Longing for warmer weather, in 1959 Ted drove cross-country from Ohio to Arizona in his Studebaker in search of sunshine. After settling in the Phoenix area, Ted started working at Motorola and was there for 27 years. While at Motorola, Ted was honored to be a member of the team that worked on the communications equipment for the Apollo space missions.

One of Ted’s biggest passions was his love of cars. You would find drawings of them all over his home. His great grandkids are carrying on the tradition of doodling cars, just like he did.

Ted loved to tell stories so much so that he wrote an autobiography for his family and ended his Epilogue with; “As I look back over my life, I realize that my legacy to this world are my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of which I am very proud.”

Ted was truly a man of integrity. He was much respected and deeply loved.

We will always carry his memory in our hearts.