Remembering Joe Rocco

About one hundred people gathered before the water and under the sun to remember Joe Rocco, who died windsurfing Hurricane Irene last Sunday. For 45 minutes we all talked with each other, sharing stories, speculating on what could have happened to Joe, how it could have happened to any of us.

Then Marianne took the microphone, standing next to a photo of Joe, a pair of his skis, and his beloved Dill board, and began talking. She spoke of how she and Joe met, their life together, and matter-of-factly about what happened last Sunday. Straight up: Joe must have hit some floating debris and then smashed into it hard, face first, knocking him out instantly. “Conditions weren’t too much for Joe. No way,” she said. And she thought a helmet would have made no difference at all.

Then others came up to speak. They included:

Windsurfers

Former windsurfers

Construction coworkers

Skiers

People who had met their spouses through Joe

Friends whose children had been taught to windsurf by Joe

New Long Islanders who were given their first gear by Joe

People who worked out with Joe

People who wanted to hang with Joe

Family of Joe

People who learned to laugh at themselves from Joe.

Then Marianne invited everyone who brought gear to do what Joe would want them to do: windsurf. The consensus was that in heaven Joe was on his 4.7, but at Joe’s Beach it was more of a six meter day. George Pav was first on the water. I walked through the parking lot to leave…I hadn’t brought my gear, but I felt the need to sail. After getting to my stuff and driving around for an hour looking for some breeze, I ended up launching at the site of my very first windsurfing experience, sailing with an old friend down the beach from the original Puffin House on the Little Peconic. There are people and places we are thankful for, and it helped me close the day.

(In the coming days there will be information about a memorial fund to be set up in Joe Rocco's name. If you are looking for more information on what happened to Joe, you can find it in the Long Island windsurfing bulletin board, and in blog posts here, here, and here.)

Comments

[Tillerman]

He sounds like a wonderful man and that was a perfect way to memorialize him. I hope my friends and family will do something similar for me one day. (Just not yet.)

[Catapulting_Aaron]

Rest in peace, Joe!

We had a similar experience and memorial a couple of years ago for our friend who died while sailing with us in the bay. It is so great to have a memorial with people who share the inspiration!

Truthfully, It was something that was difficult for me to process, but the gathering helped me gain some clarity.

Wishing the best to the New York windsurfers and Joe's family.

[Pat Byrnes]

Yep, I'd much rather my survivors gather somewhere on the water that I cared about than have them in a stuffy room participating in a ritual that wouldn't have meant much to me. And, yep, no hurry here.

[Marianne]

Once again, you have nailed the way it happened, and I deeply appreciate it. We had wind yet again today, although we needed larger stuff than Joe would have wanted to rig (above a 4.7). LOL! AND we will have wind again tomorrow, according to Windfinder. Although I will need to master carve-jibes elsewhere, Joe's Beach will be my go-to launch site in the foreseeable future.

[Ann Phelan]

Love this tribute..RIP Joe..

[Sheila Burchell]

Joe Rocco was always the bright spot in my life, no matter where I was. He taught me to windsurf, ski, and how to live life. He is the biggest influence I have ever had and all of it is positive. I am so grateful to have met him and shared time with him. We went to the "gorge" in 1990 and had a blast. I never felt scared because he was there. Now, years later, I am still working on those carving jibes and just can't make them as nice as Joe.

I still can't believe this has happened and am having a hard time processing this. How can this happen to such a wonderful human being. Love you always Joe Rocco !!

Sheila

I wish I could have been at Joe's Beach for his tribute, thank you all who attended and to Marianne, I will see you soon.

[Dan]

To Joe Rocco,

I did not know you other then talking to you once on the phone, and hearing about you though a mutual friend.

As a fellow windsurfer you seemed to have sailed like I do, well powered and confident in your ability to over come obstacles that may arise in your path. Its a game we play isn't it Joe, living close to the edge makes one feel more alive.

I hope there was no pain. I am happy for you that the end came doing something you obviously loved.

You are gone, but not forgotten.

R..I..P..

Dan

P.S. I'll roll up my 4.7 once in your honor.

[Bob L.]

I just heard about this from an email today. I am saddened. I knew Joe. First from skiing at Hunter Mtn and then at Hecksher when I was learning in '91-'93 era. He was always there. I remember him saying it was windy enough when standing by the water his pant legs would start ruffling.
And I remember his red board. Then, two years ago my wife and I went to South Miami for vacation early December. I wanted to see where I could rent equipment and found a place on a bridge Biscayne Bay. There he was jovial as ever. Small world that it is. I asked why I had not seen him skiing in the last few years. He basically said that he loved windsurfing more.
Great happy guy. I am saddened.

[Jimmy Gagnon]

It was Great sailing with you Joe. Those days at West Meadow seem so long ago but the experiences will last a lifetime and beyond..
R.I.P brother..

[Raydel Armas]

i remember the day i met him,me and my friand chip went to long island to windsurf but was a lot of sea weed,I didnt had fin for that conditions and probable Joe heard me yeld a lot of bad words in spanish due to my frustration and cuban caracter..hahahaa... and there it was this awesome guy with a weed fin on his hand -here,see if this one will work for you- and thats how may day got better,and even better when i try to returned the fin back to Joe,... guess what was Joe's answer.... "keep it,you will guive it a better use.."

Latter on i move to miami... and there it was a nice surprise to find him there at virginia key riding with all of us... like anoder 20 years old dude... so much energy on that man....
at least i know he is in a better place... hopefully windsurfing still.

Ray