Saturday, April 18, 2020
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I just found out about Rocky, my sincere condolences go out to his entire family. I grew up with Rocky, a product of Oak View School, North Junior High and good ol' BHS. I had to dig but I did find some wonderful photos, attached here are some photos that you may not have so I wanted to be sure you get these. First is our First Grade photo from Oak View School, just 6 years old, that's Rocky far right, second row from the bottom next to Regina Gentles. In the second grade photo, Rock is bottom row, second from the left with Jimmy Johnson on the outside, Joe Lysacht. on the other, just 7 years old. It took a while but I did locate the High School year book and here again, Rocky's photo from the Class of 78. The Oak View crew is a tight knit bunch, with the likes of Jeff Stevens, Paul Hsu, Greg De Gennaro, Dan Nigro and other members of the Renner Avenue gang, of which Rocky was a member. I'm a little fuzzy on the car situation, which is strange for me, being a car guy but I am pretty sure I remember a Pontiac Can Am in his driveway when we were all graduating, similar to the one shown here. I distinctly remember standing in Jeff's driveway and talking with Rocky about the car and it was either his (or his dad's) and he got to drive it but I am leaning towards it being his. I checked with Dan Nigro and he was not sure but I know Rocky either owned one or his family did and he got to drive it. Cars were very important to us guys then and now. So l'll let you know something you might not know about Rocky, he had a cannon for an arm. I mean this kid could throw. At Oak View, I think sixth grade, the Bloomfield schools all faced off against each other in a sort of Jr. Olympics that was held at Foley Field but qualifying was done at each school. So Jeff knew Rocky had a cannon and could throw farther than anyone in the school but the way the contest was done, there were some of us at one end of the playground and the competitors were at the other (softball by the way) and we had to mark the distance thrown and then throw the ball back. So Rocky, Jeff and I are shagging softballs and marking distances but Rocky had to show off and when he returned the softballs, he would throw them over the heads of the people at the other end who were competing. Well Jeff warned Rocky to save his arm (were in sixth grade mind you) and of course, Rocky figured his arm was good to go, he was just loosening up. Turns out Jeff was right, he overdid it so when it came his time to throw for distance, he could not throw as far but he still out threw the entire class. Man, he had a cannon for sure. So you guys are not going to recognize my name, I unfortunately lost touch with Rocky after high school and when I found out he was at our 40th reunion, I was disappointed as it was the first reunion I had missed since the 5th but the move to Georgia made it tough for me to attend. Michele Chirico sent me some photos of the 40th BHS reunion but I could not locate them, I know Rocky was in one of the photos she sent me (I'm looking). That's Michele in the first grade photo, second row from the top, dead center. I hope this walk down memory lane helps the entire Panico family in this most difficult of times, Rocky remains one of the Oak View Crew forever and he will be sorely missed. I hope this story and the photos help you all find peace and comfort, he was a heck of a guy, really sorry I missed him at that 40th reunion.
