Dr. Allen Francis Rocco, DDS, made his transition Friday, January 25, 2013, surrounded by family in the Zambarano Unit of the Eleanor Slater Hospital, Pascoag, RI. He was 64.
His death followed a 10 year battle with Pick's Disease (Frontotemporal Dementia), a cruel disease that destroys the brain lobes that control social skills, abstract thinking and language.
He was an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Providence Country Day School, Assumption College and Temple University School of Dentistry. He practiced dentistry in Wakefield, RI for 30 years. He was active in the South County Dental Society, the RIDA and ADA. He often provided charity care to those with special needs and residents on Block Island, RI.
Allen was an avid boater, fisherman, gardener, nature enthusiast and lover of animals. He was a talented craftsman and gourmet cook. He loved the ocean, walks on the Cliff Walk in Newport and exploring Block Island, a place he would later spend much of his time. He had a heightened sense of music, even teaching himself to play the piano.
Allen is predeceased by his father, Albert F. Rocco, MD and a son, Alexander Rocco. He is survived by his mother, Harriet Rocco of Greenville, RI; his son, Nicholas Rocco of Usquepaug, RI and Melbourne, FL and his daughter Holly Rocco Feraci and her husband of Alexandria, VA; sisters, Christina Caldwell and her husband of Mapleville, RI and Constance Rocco of South Berwick, ME; brother Stephen Rocco and his wife of Greenville, RI; and six nieces and nephews.
Allen's family is comforted in the knowledge that he is at home with the Lord.
A celebration of his life will be held Tuesday at 11:30am in the ANDERSON-WINFIELD Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common in Greenville. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Park. Visitation Tuesday 10:30-11:30am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Radnor Station #2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor, PA 19087 or www.theaftd.org.