Rocco Toppi, Jr.

Portland-Rocco Toppi, Jr., died peacefully December 9, 2010 at the Barron Center following a two year battle with kidney failure and liver disease. In the end, his stubborn Italian will was just not enough. For the past two years he resided at 75 State Street in Portland.

Born March 10, 1934 to Rocco and Rose (Profenno) Toppi, he grew up on Munjoy Hill’s Washington Avenue, the youngest of nine children. He attended Portland schools. He served in the United States Air Force from 1950 – 1954 where he was stationed in Alaska during the Korean Conflict. After serving his country, he began his 37 year employment at Central Maine Power where he retired from in 1991.

On August 3, 1957 he married Patricia Marie Ouellette. Together they raised their four children on Munjoy Hill. He was a member of the Italian Heritage Center and a lifetime member of the Portland Elks Lodge.

Even though he was the youngest of nine children, he was looked up to by his siblings. He was the family party planner, a trait that he passed on to his daughter. Whether it was family barbecues at his sister’s camp at Watchit Lake, trips to Atlantic City, Bermuda, Las Vegas or Florida, picnics for his co-workers, Monday night card games, 4th of July parties or Christmas gatherings, he was the organizer. He loved to cook and entertain which he passed on to all his children.

He was a proud grandfather two his two grandsons and two granddaughters who never passed up an opportunity to show off pictures of them and tout about their sports and school accomplishments to all his buddies at the “Muffin Club.”

He is predeceased by his parents, his wife who died in 2004, four sisters (Antoinette Joyce, Assunta Fuller, Adeline Quattrucci, Camilla Anderson) and brother (Frank Toppi). He is survived by his children Kimberly Toppi, Rocco Toppi III and his wife Mary Luke Toppi, Brian Toppi all of Portland, and his daughter Maj. Torre Donaldson and her husband Maj. Andrew Donaldson of Colorado Springs, CO and his grandchildren Rocco Toppi IV and his fiancé Maria Moran, Anthony Toppi, Megan Bennett and Madison Bennett.

He is survived by his three sisters Mary Derrig, Yola Noyes, and Emma Carrigan. He leaves behind 19 nieces and nephews, and too many great nieces and nephews to count. In a recent email his nephew Kyle said, “If you feared him, you didn’t know him.”

His family would like to thank the staff of Mercy Hospital, VNA Home Health & Hospice, the Barron Center and 75 State Street for the care and compassion they have all given him over the past several years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to:

McAuley Residence

c/o Development Office

144 State Street

Portland, ME 04101

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation Tuesday Dec. 14, 2010 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St.

Prayers will be recited Wednesday Dec.15, 2010 at 10:15 AM at the funeral home to be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.