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North East, Pennsylvania

Joseph LaRocca Obituary


Joseph Edward "Joe" LaRocca, 82, passed away on September 22, 2014, at Wexford House Rehab in Wexford, Pa., where he was being treated for complications related to a surgery. Joe was born on February 4, 1932 in Erie, Pa., and was the son of the late Charles and Margaret (Muscarella) LaRocca of North East.

Joe was a 1949 graduate of North East High School, where he excelled at basketball. He attended Penn State Behrend and received a bachelor's degree in English and social studies from Slippery Rock State University. Joe also served with the U.S. Army in Korea in the mid 1950s.

In the early 1960s he was Press Secretary for the Pennsylvania State Legislature. Later, he worked for several years as an investigative writer and field representative for the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada, investigating reported acts of heroism to determine whether they qualified for Carnegie Hero medals. In 1967, he left a position as city editor with the Erie Morning News to take a job in Fairbanks with the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as assistant news editor. Because of his experience with the Pennsylvania General Assembly, he was later named correspondent and sent to the state capital of Juneau to cover the annual sessions of the state legislature. His work in Alaska resulted in him becoming an award winning journalist, in both print and broadcast media in several states. In 1981 and 1982, Joe received an invitation to study at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he was awarded a Master's Degree in Public Policy. In the late 1980s, Joe returned to North East, where he authored and published the book Alaska Agonistes, The Age of Petroleum, which he dedicated to his parents. He was working on two more books, both with Alaska themes. He also owned a bookstore in North East for a period of time, and helped many people plan trips to Alaska. After returning to North East, Joe assisted his family greatly during and after the sickness and death of his mother and father.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and a great-nephew, Frederick Fanning.

Surviving are his sisters Rosalie Licata and her husband Tony, of Torrington, Conn.; Fran Ferko and her husband Jim of Freedom, Pa.; a brother, Greg LaRocca and his wife Lisa of Warren, Pa., sixteen nieces and nephews, six great-nieces and great-nephews, and many cousins.

Friends may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 South Lake Street, North East, on Saturday October 18, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. until time of a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be private, at St. Gregory Cemetery in North East. Memorials may be made to the McCord Memorial Library, 32 West Main Street, North East, PA 16428. Please send condolences to www.elkinfh.com.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits



Published by Erie Times-News on Oct. 15, 2014.
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I worked as a photographer and radio reporter during part of the time that Joe covered the Alaska Legislature.

He dug deeper for the facts than any other reporter, and would never take BS for an answer. He made a number of enemies and won great respect, especially from his colleagues, for fearlessly telling the truth, even when it was uncomfortable.

I'm sorry to hear that he never was able to finish the other books he was working on, because I'm sure that they would reveal some of the things that really happened in the beginning of Alaska's Big Oil era. I hope that someone will continue his work and publish his last books.

I only wish that he had been here to report on Alaskan politics over the past decade. His tenacity was, and will be, sorely missed.

At the last Bob Tkacz's estate sale this summer, I bought a sign that Bob had kept in his storage unit after Joe's departure from the scene. If anyone in the family wants it, please let me know.

Dennis Harris

October 18, 2014

Our condolences to Joe's family and friends. We both worked with Joe at the Morning News and Times in the mid-60s and admired his professional skills and friendly nature. His varied life journeys were impressive. He was a good colleague.

David and Janice Hauserman Roland
Reston, Virginia

October 15, 2014

Greg & Lisa - so sorry to hear about your brother's passing. We just passed pwr's 2 yrs. mark & I know, firsthand, what a difficult time it is for all.
My thoughts & prayers to you & Lisa -
Heidi Reyburn - Lititz, PA

October 15, 2014

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