Joseph Charles LaRocco

     Joseph Charles LaRocco, 67, of Salem, passed away on Sunday, January 17, 2021. He was

born in Schenectady, New York, on October 28, 1953. He grew up in Roanoke and participated

in the Boy Scouts and proudly attained the honor of Eagle Scout. He remained active with the

scouts his entire life.

     Joe graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1972 and Roanoke College in 1976. He

always had a strong passion for running and ran competitively in high school and college with

the track and cross country teams. He was inducted into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of

Fame in 1998. His involvement with the local running community and officiating local, state, and

national track and cross country meets continued until his passing and brought him great joy

and many loyal friends.

     Joe began his teaching and coaching career in 1978 at Bassett High School in Henry County. In

1980, he moved on to teach and coach at Cave Spring High School and he remained a proud

Knight beyond his retirement in 2013. He was a celebrated coach, teacher, and friend to many.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Jennie LaRocco, his brother Jeff LaRocco,

and his nephew, Hal Wilkins. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Terry; two daughters

and sons-in-law, Jackie and John Downs, Cathy LaRocco and Jeff Black; granddaughter, Brigid

Downs; brothers, Jim LaRocco and wife, Sharon and John LaRocco; sisters-in-law, Gerry Smith

and husband, Gary and Mary Frances Wilkins and husband, Russell; nieces and nephews, Ty

LaRocco, Meleah LaRocco Lowe, Jennifer Castelvecchi, Ashley Smith Rosser, James Wilkins,

Bray Wilkins, Mikayla Rosser, Sean Rosser, Emmett Wilkins, Maya Wilkins, Anna Wilkins, and

Nellie Lowe. Joe is also survived by his best walking and running companion, Ruthie.

     A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 631 North Jefferson

Street, Roanoke, VA 24016, on Wednesday, January 27th at 12 noon. Due to the pandemic,

seating in the church is very limited; however, the mass will be live streamed at

https://www.standrewsva.org/.  Burial will be private.

     A celebration of Joe’s life will be scheduled for a later date due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

     In lieu of flowers, Joe’s family requests that a donation to one of these entities be considered in

Joe’s honor: Roanoke College Track & Field/Cross Country, the Blue Ridge Council of the Boy

Scouts of America, or Cave Spring High School Track & Field/Cross Country (make checks

payable to “Knights Booster Club” and write track and field in the memo).

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