What Happened To Joe Rocco?

Joe Rocco, "the Mayor of Heckscher" died windsurfing Hurricane Irene on Sunday.  To meet Joe once was to have a great new windsurfing friend, generous with information, stoke, spirit, you name it.  The new article in Newsday begins "Joseph Rocco, the only Long Islander to die as a result of Tropical Storm Irene, was a friend and mentor to many in the local windsurfing scene, said those who knew him."  And he could sail!  So what happened?   In the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfing bulletin board, his very dear girlfriend Marianne tells this story: 

They drove to Shirley and found one windsurfer already there (James), sailing a 4.1 on a 78 liter board.   They took wind readings of 20-28 mph.  Joe rigged a 3.7 for his Dill, and Marianne rigged a 3.2.   Joe launched to take a few runs “to see if it was too much for me to handle.”  Marianne took another wind reading, and got 45-50.   James came back in as the winds were now too much for him, and Marianne decided not to launch.

Visibility was limited.   A nearby spectator with a telephoto lens on his camera said it looked like Joe was separated from his rig and was following it to shore.   Marianne and James tried walking along the shore to meet Joe where they thought he’d come in, but the beach was mostly gone or covered with debris so they walked down the road.  The police and EMT’s showed up, went out with James to look for Joe, and told Marianne to meet them at Brookhaven Hospital.

Neither the EMT’s nor the hospital was able to resuscitate him.  Marianne said Joe’s head “was very badly banged up, nose probably broken, bruising around his entire upper face.  Something had obviously hit his head very badly and he hopefully didn’t even know what hit him. “

Joe was a skilled windsurfer.    My guess is that he hit a piece of debris floating just beneath the surface, and was catapulted badly into something large and hard in the water.  Floating debris is the hazard we usually don’t think about when storm sailing.  I know I wasn’t looking for it at Mecox during my session, even though I remember things floating around out there after storms in the past.    

Like Rich Simons said in the Yahoo group, this could have happened to any of us.

(photo of Joe on a better day courtesy Bill Doutney)

Comments

[James Douglass]

It's so terribly sad to think of James and Marianne looking for him. SIGH. :(

[George Markopoulos]

Very sad to learn of this news. very sad

[Ann Phelan]

I met Joe thru John Markwalter. Blessings...RIP Joe..he died doing what he loved..

[Redsurfbus]

RIP, such a shame! If I am given a choice, windsurfing in a hurricane is at the top of my list. But no-ones life should be cut short in such a way.

[Bunty]

Very sad - sometimes, as difficult as it is, one has to stay put and ride out the storm.

[Bernadette Sciambia]

I feel blessed to have known him.

[Les Heine]

The wind will be lost without JR to harness it! RIP my friend! We'll all miss the "Mayor" of HSP! You were a legend for sure!

[John Heine]

We have all been honored to have him as a friend and confidant. The beach will never be the same. No more smile, words of wit and tips from the Mayor. RIP my friend, you'll be in our prayers.

[Chris Heine]

I did not know you that well but remember a great windsurfer from Heckscher..And I remember the friendship that you gave to everyone there....Rest In Peace Joe!!...

[tonywind]

What a tragedy, RIP Joe...
Someone posted on YT the video of a windsurfer sailing at Shirley after the storm. I guess this guy is James (I guess the one who lives in Florida but comes up here in the summer) as you see him coming to shore and drop the rig on the beach. He also seems to wear a helmet which seems a great idea in such conditions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP7jrAXLrVw

[waterturtle]

I'm so sorry for yours & the local windsurfing community's loss.

[Tom Garcia]

I knew Joe well, probably since around 1985. I spent alot time shootin the shit with him at Hecksher waiting for the wind to come up or in between sessions. I am very sad to hear about his passing. Joe was a great guy and friend. I live in Maui now and this year I saw another good friend from Heckscher Louie Azera. We were talkling about Joe and I asked Lou if he had seen Joe recently. I was also curious to know if he was still sailing his favortite Dill board, but I don't recall Lou's reply. I do know now he was still on his favorite board doing what he loved. I, as I am sure many others, are going to miss my dear friend Joe. See you on that Dill board in the sky! My deepest heart felt condolences to Joe's family and friends.

[Sandi]

love/miss you Joe Schmoe! I'll always be thankful for knowing you. You were a lightbringer in my life.

[nc boardrider- ralph]

I didn't know Joe but my experience has been after meeting new surfers and windsurfers I find they are just old friends I just didn’t know before.
Our friend was having a ball doing what he loved.

[Kevin]

Marianne told me he was not wearing a helmet or a pfd. together, they might have saved his life. when the windspeed goes up , so does the speed at which things happen. I would much rather have heard a story about a broken nose. bummin!

[Andy]

Losing one of the tribe hurts- Sending well wishes to your community and those who knew Joe.

[Cher]

Joe all your windsurfer buddies will miss you. You were a very special person,we all remember the great memories we shared with you.

[Jake Nadler]

Joe ripped on that Dill with a 3.7 in just about everything from 15 to 50. Great soul, super sailor and a sad loss. He was a true student of the art.

[Greg lyon]

I knew and sailed with Joe at Hecksher for several years in the mid to late nineties. A old friend told me of his passing last night and I am very saddened by it. RIP Joe, and my condolences to Joe's family. I've since moved away from NY but hope to someday make it back to field 7 to see the appropriately named Joe's beach once more.