Samuel Larocco
January 20, 1922 — December 8, 2014
Samuel LaRocco, 92, a well known business man of Stamford passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, December 8, 2014. He was born on January 20, 1922 in Little Falls, New York to the late John and Concetta LaRocco.
Sam met the love of his life, Bendetta “Tootsie” Mallozzi growing up in Stamford’s West Side on Rose Park Avenue, which at the time was comprised of predominantly Italian immigrants. Sam, being an only child, was welcomed by Tootsie’s large family, especially her six brothers and two sisters, with whom Sam formed many close bonds. Sam and Tootsie spent 73 wonderful years together and often traveled to California to visit with their son John, a Hollywood agent and enjoyed trips to Hawaii, France and Italy.
At Stamford High School ,Sam had the proud distinction of being the only sophomore to earn a position and sing in their acclaimed Capppella group. Proud of his Italian heritage, he was one of the early Board of Directors of the Stamford Italian Center. He was also a talented machinist and one of the best in his field. He was a veteran of WW II, having served as a Navy First Class Petty Officer and was stationed first in San Diego and the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, where his used his skills as a machinist to repair and perform daily maintenance on many ships in the Pacific Fleet.
After WW II, Sam became the owner of C&L Precision Inc., a machine shop that provided parts to the manufacturing, defense and aerospace industries. Notably, C&L provided parts for Apollo 11, the first manned space trip to the moon, as well as providing parts to Sikorsky Aircraft and for the famous Norden Mark 15 Bombsight. The Norden Mark 15 Bombsight was an incredibly complicated device weighing 50 lbs. that had all kinds of levers, ball-bearings, gadgets and gauges that allowed bombardiers to more accurately hit their targets by plugging in the altitude and speed of the plane, the speed of the wind and the coordinates of the target.
In his younger years, Sam was an avid photographer and fast-pitch softball player. He was also an enthusiastic fan of the New York Yankees and the UConn Women’s Basketball team.
Sam and his wife Bendetta“Tootsie” Mallozzi LaRocco, who will always be the love of his life, later became the proud owners of Budget Dry Cleaners in Riverside, CT. They had over thirty wonderful years working side by side and were overjoyed and totally surprised when the customers arranged for a surprise retirement party. It was one of the happiest days of their lives.
Throughout his life, Sam was a true gentleman who passed his kindness, patience, understanding and family values on to each of his four boys. Sam’s final days were spent enjoyably resting with his family by his side. Many thanks to all our friends and relatives for past memories that will always be cherished.
Sam is survived by his beloved wife “Tootsie”, his sons John LaRocco and his partner Doris Mendenhall, Joseph B. LaRocco and his wife Regina and his grandchildren Michael and Brian LaRocco.
Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his sons Ernest and Samuel “Sonny” LaRocco, Jr.
A funeral procession will be leaving the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 10:00 AM for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30 AM at the Church of St. Cecilia, 1184 Newfield Avenue, Stamford. Interment will follow at St. John’s RC Cemetery, Darien. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 from 5-8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sam’s memory to The National Italian American Foundation, 1860 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com
Sam met the love of his life, Bendetta “Tootsie” Mallozzi growing up in Stamford’s West Side on Rose Park Avenue, which at the time was comprised of predominantly Italian immigrants. Sam, being an only child, was welcomed by Tootsie’s large family, especially her six brothers and two sisters, with whom Sam formed many close bonds. Sam and Tootsie spent 73 wonderful years together and often traveled to California to visit with their son John, a Hollywood agent and enjoyed trips to Hawaii, France and Italy.
At Stamford High School ,Sam had the proud distinction of being the only sophomore to earn a position and sing in their acclaimed Capppella group. Proud of his Italian heritage, he was one of the early Board of Directors of the Stamford Italian Center. He was also a talented machinist and one of the best in his field. He was a veteran of WW II, having served as a Navy First Class Petty Officer and was stationed first in San Diego and the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, where his used his skills as a machinist to repair and perform daily maintenance on many ships in the Pacific Fleet.
After WW II, Sam became the owner of C&L Precision Inc., a machine shop that provided parts to the manufacturing, defense and aerospace industries. Notably, C&L provided parts for Apollo 11, the first manned space trip to the moon, as well as providing parts to Sikorsky Aircraft and for the famous Norden Mark 15 Bombsight. The Norden Mark 15 Bombsight was an incredibly complicated device weighing 50 lbs. that had all kinds of levers, ball-bearings, gadgets and gauges that allowed bombardiers to more accurately hit their targets by plugging in the altitude and speed of the plane, the speed of the wind and the coordinates of the target.
In his younger years, Sam was an avid photographer and fast-pitch softball player. He was also an enthusiastic fan of the New York Yankees and the UConn Women’s Basketball team.
Sam and his wife Bendetta“Tootsie” Mallozzi LaRocco, who will always be the love of his life, later became the proud owners of Budget Dry Cleaners in Riverside, CT. They had over thirty wonderful years working side by side and were overjoyed and totally surprised when the customers arranged for a surprise retirement party. It was one of the happiest days of their lives.
Throughout his life, Sam was a true gentleman who passed his kindness, patience, understanding and family values on to each of his four boys. Sam’s final days were spent enjoyably resting with his family by his side. Many thanks to all our friends and relatives for past memories that will always be cherished.
Sam is survived by his beloved wife “Tootsie”, his sons John LaRocco and his partner Doris Mendenhall, Joseph B. LaRocco and his wife Regina and his grandchildren Michael and Brian LaRocco.
Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his sons Ernest and Samuel “Sonny” LaRocco, Jr.
A funeral procession will be leaving the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 10:00 AM for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30 AM at the Church of St. Cecilia, 1184 Newfield Avenue, Stamford. Interment will follow at St. John’s RC Cemetery, Darien. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 from 5-8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sam’s memory to The National Italian American Foundation, 1860 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Samuel Larocco, please visit our flower store.