Rocco Nanni

Rocco Nanni, 77, passed away Thursday (Dec, 13, 2007). Rocco was born on Aug. 16, 1930, in Fairmont.He served four years with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War achieving the rank of staff sergeant. While attending Fairmont State College, he met Patricia Tennant and they were married on Sept. 8, 1956, in Winchester, Va. He graduated from WVU College of Law in 1958 and began work for the Associates Corporation. While living in Clarksburg, his only child Karen was born. Shortly after, they were transferred to South Bend, Ind., where Rocco continued his employment as a corporate attorney.The family then moved to Arlington, Texas, in 1976. They established deep roots, surrounded by many good friends and neighbors. Rocco retired from the Associates Corporation in 1993 as a vice president and assistant general counsel. This wrapped up a 35-year career and ushered in a wonderful time of retirement. Rocky remained very active, never wanting to miss his workouts at the YMCA. He was an avid reader of mystery, suspense and fiction writers. He and Pat enjoyed many traveling excursions and cruises with family and loved ones. Two weeks in Daytona Beach, Fla. became an annual retreat each summer for them with family and friends. The joy of his life in recent years was his only grandchild Nathan whom he referred to as “his little dude.” Rocky valiantly fought cancer for 18 months and was very active in living life to the fullest up to the very end. The family thanks the doctors and staff for their extraordinary effort and care at the Arlington Cancer Center. Rocco was the quiet thinker whom many relied upon for his sound advice. He was compassionate and giving and always planning for the future of his family. He will be sorely missed. But for those of us who have found our faith in Christ we look forward one day to our heavenly reunion as Rocky fully placed his heart and trust in his Lord and Savior and is at peace in His loving embrace.He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Nanni; brother. Joe Nanni; and sister, Yola Nanni.He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pat Nanni; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and David Darr of Flower Mound, Texas; grandson, Nathan Darr; sisters, Susan Giles of Atlanta, Ga., Mary Louise Morris and her husband, Buddy, of Tyrone, Ga., and Amelia Mike and Carolyn Rudash of Fairmont;. and numerous nieces and nephews.The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, Texas. The burial will follow at Moore Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, Texas, where the Nanni family has been members since 1978, and to the WVU College of Law.