Rocco DiGioia

Rocco DiGioia, 87, of Florham Park passed away on Friday, May 8, 2020, at Chatham Hills Subacute Care Center in Chatham Township.

He was born on March 19, 1933, in Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Italy.  Rocco was one of two children.  He had a brother, Francesco, who is now deceased.  He was married to Giovanna Savino, who is now also deceased.

Rocco grew up in post-war Italy, having limited formal schooling, where he had several jobs, including Municipal Land Surveyor Assistant and later leading a crew of agricultural specialists, maintaining and managing the town's public spaces, all while managing his own farm, growing olives, almonds, peaches, and grapes.

In his mid-thirties, he immigrated to America, bringing his wife and 2 small children, to start a new life in NJ, where he had to start his career all over again.  He worked a variety of jobs, including work at a block ice factory, as an assembly line worker at Metro Glass Bottle Company in Jersey City, managing the warehouse for Allied Van Lines in South Orange, to finally settling for his long term career as a head mechanic for the Budd Company and later for Ace Truck and Trailer Repairs in Jersey City.

In his retirement years, Rocco enjoyed spending time with his family and writing over 2000 poems.​

He is survived by his daughter, Isabella Feoli and her spouse Joseph of Florham Park, NJ, Laura Beaver and her spouse Tom of Concord, NC, and son, Dominick DiGioia and his spouse Cathy of Glenwood, MD.  He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Services for Rocco will take place at Galante Funeral Home, 2800 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083.  Visitation is limited to immediate family only on Thursday, May 14, followed by entombment at Hollywood Memorial Park in Union, NJ

Please join his family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on his tribute wall.