It is with great sadness that the family of James “Jimmy” Rocco, Jr. announces his passing after a brief illness in Mountain Home, Arkansas, on Aug. 3, 2019 just shy of his 80th birthday. Jimmy was born Aug. 16, 1939 in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of James Rocco, Sr. and Lucy Rocco Sanford. He served in the U.S. Navy and then moved to California, where he fulfilled his longtime dream of establishing his own butcher shop. Jimmy was an avid New York Giants fan and a very proud longtime member of the Culver City, Calif., Elks Lodge. He was elected to Exalted Ruler, the charitable organization’s highest post, in 2002 and several years later moved to Arkansas.
In addition to his parents, Jimmy was predeceased by his sister, Gloria “Chickie” (Anthony) Coppola and brother, Anthony Rocco. Jimmy will be fondly remembered by his sisters, Marie (Anthony) Lomartra and Patricia (Glen) Hastings, his brother, Michael Rocco and his nieces, Debbie Walsh and Laurie Coppola, as well as several other nieces and nephews, extended family and friends, and former spouse Gay Chambers.
There will be a graveside service on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at 10 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery on Green Hill Road in Killingworth.
Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas.