Joseph Carmine LaRocca

Joe’s story began on a Thursday January 16th, 1930, born to Nunzio & Anna LaRocca of Newark, New Jersey. He spent his childhood playing stick ball in the street and chasing the ice man. At around 10 Yrs old his life, changed drastically. He came home from school and his mother was gone, not seeing her again until his early 20's. His parents divorced and his father remarried quickly. These were tough times for him, his stepmother was young and wanted a family of her own and he was quickly shoved to the side. It was during this time he became a numbers runner for a bookie, of which he had fond memories.

In August of 1951, he joined the army for the Korean War. Most of his time was served in Europe stationed in Austria and rose to the rank as Corporal. He loved military life. He then married and started his family, William born in 1952, David in 1956 and finally Joseph Carmine LaRocca II arrived in 1957.

Post Army life was full of hope and changes. He reconnected with his mother Anna and met his step-father Dutch and half-brother Harry. He was an active dad involved in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts & Little League. In 1957 he joined the American Legion Post 324 in Edison, NJ, which he was Post Commander and remained an active member until his death. He loved being a legionnaire; where he volunteered his time for many organizations and fund raisers. He worked for Con Lux Paint and bar tended part time for Art Stock down at the shore.

1976 Began a new chapter with his divorce. He then began traveling with lifelong friends and his legionnaire buddies. In the spring of 1981 he set sail on a Carnival Cruise that would change his life. During those 7 days he met and fell in love with Kerry. There were a few bumps in this fairy tale, 24 years apart in age & 2900 miles apart in life. To Joe & Kerry age was just a number, but distance in this case made the heart grow fonder. After the romance of the cruise docked, the 2900 mile courtship via phone began. In the summer of 1981 his newest adventure started as Kerry flew to NJ and she and Joe ventured home via car to California on Interstate 80.

Once in California, Joe met the light of his life a little 3 year old named Krissy. The Trio settled into their new family like a fish to water. On his birthday in 1982 he married Kerry in a small ceremony, followed by a reception at Bill and Kathy’s house. The duo & trio took many vacations for the next few years. Some Cruises with the Legion Gang where Joe, Richie, Vito & John partied till dawn; trips to the Coast & Disneyland. But a special trip was taken by the Trio in 1984 after Joe adopted Krissy, to meet her east coast family, including Uncle Harry, Aunt Joan and brothers David & Joe and the new addition Joseph Carmine LaRocca III born in 1983.

In 1986, Joe began working for Gary doing metal finishing. The Trio received a trip to Hawaii from Gary. On Thanksgiving Day 1987 Joe, Kerry and Krissy ate their turkey as they watched the sun set over the pacific. In addition, Joe worked very hard to turn Krissy in to a little league star. Unfortunately that was not the case. However Joe did have season tickets to the Oakland A’s, they faired a little better winning the World Series after the great quake in 1989.

The 80’s rounded out with 2 more cruises; after the first Krissy and Michelle joined the duo for a second week at Disney world. The second Krissy spent two weeks with Joe II and his family with the addition of Kevin who was born on 1986; while Joe and Kerry joined them for the second week. In addition his son David welcomed Anthony in 1987. It also became time for a change in career, Joe joined R.A. Hansen Co. Painting where he worked until 1996.

The early Nineties were spent both working and vacationing when possible. Joe enjoyed seeing his daughter both Graduate and compete at USA cheerleading nationals in Anaheim. In the summer of 1996 before sending her off to college, Joe and Kerry took their daughter & her best friend Noell on a cruise to Mexico. They were joined on their trip by Bill, Kate, Joey & Dustin. The poor waiter almost lost a hand when the bread came out. Once his daughter was at college he and Kerry also began a new adventure, managing Townhomes and everyday handy man work. There were many Saturdays spent at Kennedy Park with his nephew Tyler. In the fall of 1998 the trio went to NJ to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Post 324.

For the millennium he somehow let Krissy convince him, Kerry, Tony & Dolores (his soon to be in-laws) to spend it at Disneyland. Where once Tinkerbelle flew at midnight strollers became battering rams. In March of 2001 he walked his only daughter down the aisle when she married Tony. The Wedding was Cinderella themed, as Joe always treated Krissy like a princess; they danced to Bennett’s “The Way You Look Tonight”. The honeymoon was a whole gang deal; Tony & Krissy were joined by Joe, Kerry, Bill, Kate & Dustin, in addition to some of the New Jersey gang. This cruise started out in San Juan and ended in New York Harbor; passing the “Twin Towers” just a few short months before they fell.

In 2002 Krissy & Tony moved away to Redding, in May of 2003 they welcomed his twin granddaughters Emmy & Abby in Redding, CA. Soon weekend visits were not enough for him and Kerry. So in December of 2003 he retired from everything else and became the girl’s Nanny while their parents worked. He was there to witness every little milestone from crawling, to talking “Big Daddy”( was a phrase they learned really quickly) to riding bikes. Nap time was everyone’s favorite time of the day. Thank goodness he had partial hearing loss cause man they could squeal, especially when he took them to the big park.

In late 2005 Joe received the worst kind for news he had prostate cancer. But like a trooper he vowed to fight. He and Kerry moved in with Krissy and the girls for a short time to make sure everyone had the care and the love they needed. He also received a surprise visit from David, seeing him first time in over a decade. By spring of 2006 all was good and he was in remission, where he stayed.

September 2007 his girlies began pre-school and with time on his hands he worked in the warehouse at West Coast Imaging. After about 6 months he decided he was “too old for this”. As kindergarten dawned, he walked his girls to the bus every morning and met them each afternoon when their parents were working. He attended every play, musical & performance Abby and Emmy participated in. By 2011, he no longer did the cold morning bus stop at 6:55 AM; but he was still there every afternoon. In 2013 he watched his granddaughters cheer for FJC in the same red, white and black colors that their mom had 20 years prior.

Over the last few years Joe slowed down, but still walked every day. Neither Krissy nor Joe were animal people but when his girls adopted a new little dog named Oreo in early 2014; Joe gained a new best friend & shadow.

Fall of 2014 was filled with so much to be excited and thankful for. Kerry had won a new BBQ at work. Kerry, Joe & Kate were planning a cruise to Mexico. He helped Krissy set up & taste test the food for Kerry’s 60th birthday party. Kerry’s party was a little bash with family, friends, food & Merlot. Joe complained that Kerry didn’t receive any gift cards for restaurants. Everyone hugged him and said their goodbyes, not knowing it would be the final time. Early Sunday morning he suffered a heart attack, He rolled his eyes and waved off the nurse as she asked if he was in any pain and she fussed with his IV’s, in true Joe fashion. He told Krissy he loved her. He then told the love of his life Kerry he loved her and asked her to take care of his girls. He then left us very early Sunday morning. Leaving us all behind with memories of an amazing caring man who loved his family and friends fiercely.

Joseph Carmine LaRocca January 16th, 1930 - September 28th, 2014

Survived by Wife Kerry, Son’s Bill, David (wife Tonya), Joe Jr, Daughter Krissy (husband Tony). Brother Harry Wilde (wife Joan), Grandchildren, Joey, Kevin, Anthony, Abby & Emmy, sister-in-law Kathy Spridgen, Brother-in-law David Inman, Sister-in-law Michelle Inman, plus numerous nephews and nieces..