Rocco M. Brown

Born and raised in the Oak grove area on 2nd Street in Monterey to Jimmy and Mary (Babe) Brown. His siblings Roberta and Michael shared a tiny little home together. Many relatives and good friends lived in Oak Grove making it a treasured neighborhood.

Rocco started his newspaper career at 9years old rolling papers at the paper shack in Oak Grove close to his home, as he got older and could drive, he worked for Steve Canepa for years delivering papers all over the peninsula.

Rocco was a San Carlos school graduate and attended Junipero Serra Memorial High and Monterey High School for the thrill of playing football!

He was drafted into the Army and did his basic training at Fort Ord and then off to Fort Eustis working in logistics and was known for being a sharpshooter.

He eventually started painting as a licensed contractor in 1969, working for Ray Miller and Frank Groupe on new home construction spanning his career just under 50 years! Rocco was instrumental in painting San Carlos Cathedral during its restoration period with the help of his partner at the time, John Quaglia. He donated many hours to his beloved church and attended mass at least three times a week, including St Angles where he was baptized.

Rocco and Cynthia met in the 80’s and their lives changed forever, married at St. John’s Chapel and almost hitting the 50-year mark with their marriage. Rocco embraced in his life a daughter, Jennifer and a son Matthew, the family also came with two dogs, a cat and a turtle.

A true lover of the sea had many boats starting with a dinghy and an outboard Evinrude Eventually ending up with a 26’ Bayliner with radar and a full kitchen, plus a slip in the Marina thanks to Tom Scardina! Salmon sport fishing was his past time passion with a eclectic crew of close-knit friends, Don Snyder, Bert Saunders, Eliott Booker, Tommy Bruno, Richard Radley and occasionally the master in filleting Mel Snyder.

Along with many friends he was stuck in the 50’s with his music and his love for his 58 Chevy Impala, enjoying many “Cherry Jubilee events. Cars were on the top of his list for dragging Alvarado Main Street and going to the El Patio.

Rocco leaves behind his wife, Cynthia, his daughter Jennifer Bliss (Gregg), his son, Matthew Durney, his brother-in-law Jeff Scofield, a niece Sherry Brown and nephews Ron and Steve Prieto.

Service will be held on Friday January 23 at 10am at San Carlos Cathedral Church and immediately following a reception at St. John’s Chapel where Rocco and Cynthia were married.

In lieu of flowers please donate to his beloved San Carlos Cathedral and the Monterey SPCA of Monterey County P.O.Box 3058 Monterey, CA 93940-2207. He never met a dog or cat he didn’t love, taking care of the church cat ”Renew” for years at San Carlos.