A Man of Action
David Rocco is the very definition of an active retiree. Since retiring from NYCHA in 2001, he has assisted with 9/11 rescue and recovery efforts, brought his three-decade blood donation tally to more than 20 gallons, published and exhibited more than a hundred of his photographs, and appeared in The New York Times, PBS, and other media for his community activism.
Now he is creating a memorial for eight Navy sailors who died in two separate plane crashes on Mount Beacon in Dutchess County, New York. The first crash occurred in 1935; the second, which occurred ten years later on Veterans Day, claimed the lives of six servicemen, including Commodore Dixie Kiefer, a decorated Navy officer who fought in both world wars.
“These guys saw major battles across the world, yet got killed in a beautiful location in the Hudson Valley,” Mr. Rocco mused. “I thought that their story needed to be told.” Author Don Keith collaborated with Mr. Rocco on a biography of Commodore Kiefer titled “The Indestructible Man: The True Story of World War II Hero ‘Captain Dixie’.”
“Don has written over 30 books, many of which received several awards. I sent him everything I had – including personnel records of all eight guys that I got with the help of Senator Gillibrand’s office – and he said, ‘Let’s do it.’ I knew I had it right, putting the info in the hands of someone who can tell a really good story. His books have been turned into movies, and he wants to do the same for this one.”
One of the most notable projects Mr. Rocco helped bring to fruition is the Walkway Over the Hudson, a former railroad bridge near Poughkeepsie, New York, that has been transformed into a pedestrian walkway offering beautiful vistas to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Over his nearly 18 years as a carpenter with NYCHA, Mr. Rocco worked in all five boroughs, though he was stationed in the Bronx for most of that time. By his estimates, he completed repairs at some 130 developments.
At University Avenue Rehab, he helped rebuild the lobby. “Residents were so, so happy. They were so grateful for the improvements we made for their building that they would bring us food. I miss the tenants, some great people. It was a great job for me. I still see some of the signs I built for the developments when I’m driving around the city.”
Wonder what’s next for this dynamo?
Well, you may see him taking photos of New York’s treasures – big and small – from a helicopter, boat, or at the shores of the mighty Hudson River. He’s also organizing a celebration for what would be Paul Robeson’s 120th birthday and turning a shuttered, 19th century railroad depot into a cultural space. And he’s launching an academic campus that prepares youth of all ages for in-demand jobs with employers like IBM.
If you see him working on any of his community-focused projects, be sure to say hello. He’ll be happy to share his passion with you.
