Alina Cocozza

Alina Cocozza was born in Germany to Mykola and Irena Zajac, who were of Ukrainian and Belarusian descent. As displaced persons following World War II, the family began a journey that took them through England before immigrating to the United States aboard the Queen Mary in 1959, where they built a new life filled with hope and opportunity.

Alina graduated from Curtis High School in 1965. Through a cooperative education program, she began her career at Irving Trust Company. She later worked for Richmond County Savings Bank before concluding her professional career as the Payroll Secretary at Port Richmond High School. She took great pride in her work and was a devoted member of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).

At the age of 16, Alina met the love of her life, Sam Cocozza. They married when she was 22 and shared nearly 57 wonderful years of marriage, building a life centered on love, family, and unwavering devotion to one another.

Alina was a proud and loving mother to Alisa Cocozza and her husband, Michael McKofke, and to Sam Cocozza and his wife, Sandra. She was an adoring grandmother to Sam and Sophia Cocozza, who brought her immeasurable joy. She is also survived by her sister Irena Stawitz, and many nieces and spouses.

Nothing meant more to Alina than her family. She cherished every opportunity to spend time together, whether traveling the world on family adventures, welcoming loved ones into her home with warmth and generosity, or creating treasured memories at the family’s lake cottage in Massachusetts. Her kindness, strength, and deep love for those around her will be remembered always and carried forward by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Dementia Society of America