Frank Rocco, a 69-year-old retired Winona State University Special Education professor, passed away on Wednesday, March 5 at Community Memorial Hospital.
Rocco served Winona State from fall 1972 until his retirement in spring 2007.
Rocco was born on Feb. 6, 1939 and married his wife Joyce in 1963. He received his undergraduate degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, his master’s degree from Boston College, and his Ph. D. from Michigan State University.
Before his tenure at Winona State, Rocco worked in the field of visual impairment and was a superintendent at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. He had three daughters and six grandchildren.
After Professor Rocco’s retirement in the spring of 2007 he received the status of Professor Emeritus from his colleagues in his department. This distinction can be awarded to a professor after retirement if they have worked for more than ten years at Winona State.
This award is based upon high achievement, teaching excellence, scholarly achievement, contributions to student growth and development, and service to Winona State and the community.
Ken Gorman, dean of International Studies and associate vice-preisdent for Academic Affairs worked with Rocco professionally for a few years and knew him personally since the 1980’s.
Gorman was in Egypt when Rocco passed away.
“His two passions in life were his family and his professional career,” said Gorman. “His family always came first though. That’s a lesson we can all learn from.”
According to Gorman, Rocco was always very proud of his Italian heritage.
Gorman remembers him talking often about his family connection and Italian food.
“He loved Italian food,” said Gorman, “I remember him joking to me once that the meatballs at Fazoli’s were as good as his mother’s meatballs.”
Gorman especially remembers Rocco’s sense of humor.
“He was really funny, he had a great wit and a great sense of humor,” said Gorman. “Sometimes he had tough humor, but he was always really witty and you had to think about what he said. He was also a great storyteller, and you would always be fully engaged in conversation if you were talking to him.”
Every year the Roccos would host the Special Education students at his house for a Christmas buffet, complete with caroling.
“He was in a choir and would lead the songs,” said Gorman. “He had a really good voice.”
Rocco would commonly bring in Special Education experts from the area into class to let them teach the students and speak to them.
He prepared his students well by exposing them to practitioners in the field and keeping them up to speed with current issues.
“He found it a very difficult decision to retire,” said Gorman. “He loved what he was doing and found it a tough thing to let go of. He stayed past the time when most people retire.”

Contact Greg at GJEichte1680@winona.edu