Obituary for Rocco Anthony Maturo
Rocco Anthony Maturo, Jr., 64, passed away on Wednesday, May 20th, with his children by his side, after a hard-fought battle with pre-existing health conditions.
Rocco was born to Rocco (Sr.) and Geraldine (Uliano) Maturo on March 4, 1956 in Jamaica, Queens, NY. He grew up in a big, traditional Italian family with two brothers and one sister. Rocco’s adolescent years were spent playing baseball, acting in school plays, and finding adventure in the pages of his favorite novels. After graduating from high school, Rocco went on to study English Literature at St. Bonaventure University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
After graduation, Rocco’s first job was as an English teacher at Stockbridge Valley Central School where he also coached the baseball team. Rocco left teaching to pursue a career in business. After a brief stint in restaurant management, he took a job in Human Resources that became the foundation of a long, successful career. Rocco seized opportunities for career advancement, which included earning a graduate degree in Business Management from Lesley University. When Rocco retired from his position as Vice President of Human Resources for the Risk Management Foundation in Cambridge, MA, he was widely regarded as an expert in his field.
Rocco’s expertise was not limited to his profession. He was the resident expert on movies, music, books, and baseball, making him the de facto “phone-a-friend” on trivia night. His passion and excitement about a new movie, a great book, or a band he just found was so contagious that people wanted to be part of it. In fact, that energy is responsible for creating a generation of Parrotheads.
He will be remembered for his brilliant mind, quit wit, dry humor, and picking on the people he loved the most. Above all else, however, he will be sorely missed but fondly remembered for his love of family, his complete inability to hang shelves, and for tuning-in to Yankee games only to be found napping during innings two through eight.
In addition to his parents, Rocco was predeceased by his nephew and roommate, “Larry” (Lawrence, Jr.). He is survived by his fat little dog, Gemma; his ‘three little uglies’, in formation, Regina, Anna, and Rocco (III); his siblings, Lawrence (Anna), James (Deborah), and Diane (Keith); his first wife and mother of his children, Kendra Kulba, who stepped in as a caregiver (whether he liked it or not); and his many nieces and nephews, including his three youngest nephews, Carmine, Antonio, and Cosimo, with whom he shared a special bond.
The family would like to give special thanks to the remarkable team of doctors and nurses at Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, RI who cared for Rocco in his final days.
A memorial service to celebrate Rocco’s life will be held in Syracuse, NY, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rocco’s memory to the American Diabetes Association, 146 Clifford Street, Providence, RI 02903 would be appreciated.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the
Berarducci Home & Cremation Care Center in Providence.
Rocco was born to Rocco (Sr.) and Geraldine (Uliano) Maturo on March 4, 1956 in Jamaica, Queens, NY. He grew up in a big, traditional Italian family with two brothers and one sister. Rocco’s adolescent years were spent playing baseball, acting in school plays, and finding adventure in the pages of his favorite novels. After graduating from high school, Rocco went on to study English Literature at St. Bonaventure University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
After graduation, Rocco’s first job was as an English teacher at Stockbridge Valley Central School where he also coached the baseball team. Rocco left teaching to pursue a career in business. After a brief stint in restaurant management, he took a job in Human Resources that became the foundation of a long, successful career. Rocco seized opportunities for career advancement, which included earning a graduate degree in Business Management from Lesley University. When Rocco retired from his position as Vice President of Human Resources for the Risk Management Foundation in Cambridge, MA, he was widely regarded as an expert in his field.
Rocco’s expertise was not limited to his profession. He was the resident expert on movies, music, books, and baseball, making him the de facto “phone-a-friend” on trivia night. His passion and excitement about a new movie, a great book, or a band he just found was so contagious that people wanted to be part of it. In fact, that energy is responsible for creating a generation of Parrotheads.
He will be remembered for his brilliant mind, quit wit, dry humor, and picking on the people he loved the most. Above all else, however, he will be sorely missed but fondly remembered for his love of family, his complete inability to hang shelves, and for tuning-in to Yankee games only to be found napping during innings two through eight.
In addition to his parents, Rocco was predeceased by his nephew and roommate, “Larry” (Lawrence, Jr.). He is survived by his fat little dog, Gemma; his ‘three little uglies’, in formation, Regina, Anna, and Rocco (III); his siblings, Lawrence (Anna), James (Deborah), and Diane (Keith); his first wife and mother of his children, Kendra Kulba, who stepped in as a caregiver (whether he liked it or not); and his many nieces and nephews, including his three youngest nephews, Carmine, Antonio, and Cosimo, with whom he shared a special bond.
The family would like to give special thanks to the remarkable team of doctors and nurses at Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, RI who cared for Rocco in his final days.
A memorial service to celebrate Rocco’s life will be held in Syracuse, NY, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rocco’s memory to the American Diabetes Association, 146 Clifford Street, Providence, RI 02903 would be appreciated.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the
Berarducci Home & Cremation Care Center in Providence.