Rocco A Solimando

Rocco A. Solimando, Sr. Obituary 1932-2017- Rocco A. Solimando, Sr., passed away after a brief illness on February 2, 2017. He was born on November 25, 1932 to parents Rocco and Donata Solimando.Rocco was born and raised in Utica, NY, where he attended local schools and later graduated from Hamilton College in 1954 and Cornell Law School in 1957. His true passion was the law; he helped form the Law Firm of Solimando, Giruzzi & Zamorski in 1961 and continued to practice there until 1972. Rocco also served as the Corporation Counsel for the City of Utica under Mayor Dominick Assaro from 1969 to 1971. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Utica, rising to the rank of Faithful Navigator. In 1972, Rocco moved to Guilderland, NY and joined New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) – later becoming the Assistant General Counsel and working as a well respected and key member of the labor union for 32 years. Rocco married Annabelle Cristallo in 1959 and they later had two sons, Rocco Jr. and Peter Solimando. The couple lived at their home in Guilderland, NY for 45 years. Rocco was currently a New York State Arbitrator and defensive driving teacher for the New York State Safety Council. Rocco is survived by his loving family, including wife Annabelle of Guilderland, NY; sister Maryrose Solimando of Utica, NY; children Rocco, Jr. (Donna) Solimando of Guilderland, NY and Peter (Lisa) Solimando of Guilderland, NY; grandchildren Gina Solimando of Guilderland, NY and Peter Solimando, II of Guilderland, NY; and many other wonderful relatives and friends. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 9th from 5 to 8 p.m. at DeMarco Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Western Turnpike (Rt 20) in Guilderland. Funeral services will begin on Friday, February 10th at 9:15 am from the funeral home, followed at 10 am by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carman Road in Guilderland. Interment will take place following the service at the Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, 2501 Troy-Schenectady Road in Schenectady. Rocco’s family is requesting that anyone wishing to remember him in a special way make a memorial contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His family would also like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Steven Stain, the Albany Medical Center ICU nurses along with the entire staff at Albany Med for the care and compassion that they showed Rocco.