John P. Rocchio

1938 - 2021

John P. Rocchio
1938 - 2021
Resident of Los Gatos, CA
John died December 1, 2021 of a cardiac arrest due to blood loss. He was born in New York City January 13, 1938. His parents, Giovanni and Angela Di Pietrantonio Rocchio were born in Gallo Matese, Caserta, Campania, Italy. John is the youngest of five children. Filippo, George, Rose, and Caterina predeceased him. He is survived by his Wife Arlene, Daughter Maria (Mike Curwen), Sons – John (Carina), Tom (Anolan), and Jim (Jolene) and adored grandchildren Julia, Andrew, Santino, Gio, Chiara and Lucia.
John graduated from Peter Stuyvesant high school in Manhattan, NYC and the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. receiving a B.S. degree in marine engineering. He spent three years as an officer in the U.S. Navy where, on a blind date, he met the love of his life – a Navy nurse named Arlene Healey. They were happily married for more than 61 years. John joined GE's technical marketing program with rotating assignments on the East Coast. In 1964, he transferred to GE's Nuclear Energy Division in San Jose. While there he was promoted to manager of international sales. He was particularly proud of having led the team that sold two nuclear power stations to Taiwan Power Company. In 1984, John was one of the five founders of the Calpine Corporation, a company that develops, owns and operates geothermal and gas-fired electric power generation plants. He was a senior vice president and was in charge of developing large gas-fired cogeneration projects until he retired in 2006.
Together, John and Arlene raised their four children living the California Dream. This included involvement in community activities such as school steering committee, school fund raising, Junior Achievement, Indian Guides, Grey Y basketball coaching, AYSO commissioner and involved in church (Holy Spirit Parish).
Moving to Los Gatos in 1975, John joined St. Mary's Parish. A devout Catholic, he enjoyed its activities such as bible studies, R.C.I.A., senior activities, the Italian Catholic Federation, and being a Eucharist Minister to the sick.
The family enjoyed annual camping trips to Smith River, California for many years with the Healey clan (Arlene's parents, her brother, sisters and all the extended family). His greatest pleasures were annual family reunions, hiking, reading mystery novels, and traveling. He and Arlene saw all seven continents and explored all corners of the globe (especially Italy). In 2014, John and Arlene were joined by all of their children and grandchildren for a reunion in Italy, including a visit to John's ancestral village. A dream come true.
A funeral mass will take place Monday, December 20, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 219 Bean Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030. There will be a live stream of the memorial mass: https://venue.streamspot.com/event/Mjk2MTQ2OA==. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations made to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception: https://stmaryslg.org/donate, St. Vincent de Paul: https://www.svdp.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/, Catholic Charities: https://www.catholiccharitiesscc.org/donate?locale=en


https://www.lastingmemories.com/john-p-rocchio">