Rocco "Roy" G. Vanasco Obituary (1926 - 2024)

Rocco "Roy" G. Vanasco, 98 of Monroe Township, NJ died Monday November 25th at Foxtrail Senior Living, West Windsor, NJ. Born in Fort Green, Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, Mr. Vanasco lived in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn from 1972 until moving to the Greenbriar community in Monroe Township in 1999. He was a parishioner of Nativity of Our Lord RC Church, Monroe Township. He attended the local Precinct Community Council's Police Athletic League, and learned a lot about boxing, it was an enjoyable time. He graduated from the John Jay High School. But before that, he was a member of the New York National Guard, 27th Division, with his brothers Jack and Joe, and about a dozen friends of his. When the war broke out in December 1941, they all joined the Home Guard, which later became the National Guard. But they weren't old enough; they lied about their ages when they joined. They wanted to ship out to Hawaii with the Home Guard, and all the parents on the block and in the neighborhood, whose children lied about their age, all stormed in to see the general, and the general reprimanded the mothers: "You never should've signed the papers to enlist your sons in the Home Guard." But he gave them all honorable discharges. He graduated from high school in January 1943, and enlisted in the Navy and attained the rank of Fireman 1st Class. He served in the Pacific theater. After the war, Mr. Vanasco returned to Brooklyn and became a self-employed businessman repairing appliances until his retirement. He and his brother Jack, were instrumental in the reopening of the World War II memorial in Cadman Park and had contributed to the significant revitalization of downtown Brooklyn. He was a community leader, serving on his local Community Board for decades. He founded and was President of the Myrtle Avenue Merchants Association and was the Republican Party's nominee for State Senator. He was predeceased by his brothers Terry, Joseph, Thomas and Jack. Surviving are his wife Rhoda Vickers Vanasco, his two sons Mark Hellman and his wife Katherine and Joel Hellman and his wife Sharon, two grandchildren, Michael and Isabel, three nieces and a nephew. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday December 6th at the Brig. General Wm. C. Doyle NJ Veterans Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ.