Rocco Di Giorgio

He was born in Pignataro Interamna, Italy on February 22, 1936. His early life was marked by resilience, adaptation, and grit, as a child who grew up in war-torn World War II Italy. He came to the United States as a refugee in 1956, the eldest of seven brothers and sisters.

Mr. Di Giorgio’s life was characterized by service and sacrifice, evident in his tenure as a Korean War soldier in the late 1950s. He was a patriot, carrying an abiding love for America that he never hesitated to express. This love extended to his appreciation of the American spirit - resilience, fortitude, and the pursuit of lofty goals, qualities that he embodied to the fullest.

Mr. Di Giorgio had a successful career in the construction industry in New York. He started as a laborer in the early 1960s, and over the trajectory of his career, assumed leadership roles of increasing responsibility. He contributed to numerous significant building projects in the New York City area, including the development of the World’s Fair infrastructure and the annex to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. By the 1980s, he was leading prolific building projects for roads and bridges throughout the New York City area – anyone traveling in the New York City area on a given day today, might be traversing over one of the many thoroughfares he was responsible for.

Mr. Di Giorgio cherished his family. His love for his children, wife and grandchildren was a radiant, immutable force that guided his actions and informed his decisions daily. He is survived by his loving wife Trudy Di Giorgio, his daughters, Roberta Di Giorgio and Nicole Orphanos, his son-in-law Peter Orphanos and his beloved grandchildren Peter Jr. and Katherine Orphanos. He also is survived by his brother Rinaldo Di Giorgio, his sisters Elisa Evangelista, Gisella Civale and Lucia Salamone. His brothers Benito Vittorio Di Giorgio and Antonio Di Giorgio are deceased.

Services will be held at St Ignatius Church on Saturday, June 17 10:00 am.

The Di Giorgio family wishes to honor Mr. Di Giorgio’s memory through gifts to institutions of learning. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to an institution listed below:

St David's School: www.saintdavids.org

Eagle Hill School: www.eaglehill.school

Dartmouth College: www.Dartmouth.edu

Georgetown University: www.Georgetown.edu