Leo J. Rocca

Leo J. Rocca, an accomplished businessman and loving family man, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 23rd, in Tucson, AZ, surrounded by his family.

Born on August 25, 1934, in Washington D.C., Leo was the son of Leo and Leonora Rocca. He is survived by his wife, Christine Rocca (neé Smith), and their three children, William C. Rocca of Seattle, WA, Hilary K. Rocca of Solana Beach, CA, and Stephanie Wilbur (Andrew H. Wilbur), of Rancho Santa Fe, CA. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Thomas Rocca, Henry Wilbur, Christopher Rocca, Caroline Wilbur, and Siena England-Rocca; and by his sister, Leonora Bernheisel of Sabillasville, MD.

Leo was raised in the Washington, D.C. area, and graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, CT in 1953. At The University of Virginia, he enrolled in ROTC, joined Chi Psi fraternity, and became a founding member of the UVA Polo Club. He met his future bride, Christine, while at Virginia, and bonded with her over a shared, life-long passion for horses and equestrian activities across many disciplines.

After graduating from Virginia in 1959, Leo went into active duty with the U.S. Army. While rising to the rank of Capitan, he served with the 82nd Airborne (Master Parachutist), then qualified as a Ranger and a Special Forces operator, experiences he fondly recalled as formative and character-building. He and Christine married in January of 1961 in Wilmington, DE. Shortly thereafter, he transitioned to Army Reserve duty and into executive development training with Mobil Oil. Over the span of a 12-year career with Mobil, Leo held management positions in Texas, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, New York, London, the Canary Islands and Morocco.

In 1976, Leo and family returned to the US and settled in Frederick County, MD where he would stay for the next four decades. Leo founded a real estate management and investment company and developed properties in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

An avid skier, he volunteered with the National Ski Patrol at Ski Liberty. His many interests included restoring vintage motorcycles and cars, woodworking and carriage-driving. He was a longtime member of Newmarket-Middletown Valley Hounds hunt club and served as their Master of Foxhounds from 1997 to 2009. He appeared in numerous television commercials and several movies, including a role as Governor John Millard Tawes in the original version of "Hairspray" (1988).

Leo's faith was central to his life. He attended church regularly and frequently spoke of the strength he found in his faith. He was a strong supporter of Catholic and Episcopal education at numerous Maryland institutions, including St. John's Catholic Prep (Frederick) and the St. James School (Hagerstown, MD).

In 1987, Leo and Chris purchased a Civil War-era farm on the slopes of South Mountain in Middletown, MD and undertook a multi-year project to renovate the home, barns, and stables of Fox Gap Farm into a place of cherished beauty and family memories. In their later years, they followed their children and grandchildren to Coronado, CA, before ultimately making Tucson their permanent home. In Tucson, they enjoyed their associations with the University of Arizona School of Veterinary Medicine and the Mountain Oyster Club.

Memorial services for Leo will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to a charitable organization of the donor's choosing. Leo's profound faith, determination, and dedication to others will be remembered by all who knew him, and he will be deeply missed.