Henry G. Ciocca

CIOCCA Henry G. Ciocca, age 61 of Fairfield, beloved husband of Rita Ciocca and cherished father of Christina, Henry, Mariana and Nicole, passed away Thursday, March 20, 2008 after a valiant fight against cancer. Henry was born in San Bernadino, Calif. and grew up in Buffalo, N.Y. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Notre Dame Law School and a B.A. from Canisius College, where he played on the varsity baseball team and graduated with honors. A man of many talents and pursuits, Henry began his career as assistant general counsel of Nestle US., where he met and married Rita Carbone, then a marketing executive. He continued on as vice president-general counsel of Tetley, Inc., before serving as executive vice president and general counsel of the Information and Publishing Group of The Thomson Corporation in Stamford. From 1993 to 1955, he was president of Markborough Development, a division of Thomson that developed residential master-planned communities in the U.S. In 1995, he was appointed as president, chief executive officer and director of Markborough Properties, Inc., head-quartered in Toronto, taking his family on an international adventure that included numerous ski weekends, Blue Jays games, and a delightful visit to the Winter Carnival in Quebec City. After acting as an advisor to the president of Thomson from 1997 to 1999, Henry served as vice president and general counsel of Sbarro, Inc. in January 2000. Upon his retirement, Henry continued to pursue his true loves, sports and his family. He coached youth baseball and basketball, enjoyed golf and tennis, and never once missed any of his children's games, performances or presentations. He also continued his consulting work, even during his years of illness. Henry will always be remembered for his love of family, his courage, his integrity, and his strength. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 24, 2008 at 11 a.m. meeting DIRECTLY in St. Luke Church, 84 Long Lots Road, Westport. Interment will be private. Friends may call Saturday (Today) from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Henry's memory may be made to the University of Notre Dame, Henry G. Ciocca Law Fellowship, C/O Notre Dame School of Law, P.O. Box 780, Notre Dame, IN 46556. For information or to offer an online condolence please visit www.spearmillerfuneralhome.com.