Ex-Addison village manager remembered for personal touch
While former Addison Village Manager Anthony J. LaRocca served residents for more than 50 years, colleagues said his personal touch stood out just as much as his professional achievements.
LaRocca, 83, died Tuesday after battling a long illness. He joined Addison as a part-time police officer in 1956, moved onto the public works department, then into administration where he retired as village manager in 1989. He then went on to serve the Addison Fire Protection District for more than 20 years.
“I looked up to him probably only second to my dad,” said public works Director Mitch Patterson, who worked with LaRocca for 40 years. “I was just a young operator and I used to think 'This is someone I want to emulate as I grow into an adult.'”
Two years after joining the police force, LaRocca was appointed as the superintendent of water pollution control. He served in that role for 25 years, until he became acting village manager in 1983.
It was during his years in public works that Patterson really got to know his mentor. Patterson said he still thinks of LaRocca's lessons and examples when he does his job today.
“He just had this special way with people,” Patterson said. “Usually if you talk with your boss, you talk across a desk. But he would sit down next to you. It would be so personal and you would just connect.
“I will make sure my kids and my grandkids know about him and will just try to give people the kindness that he showed.”
LaRocca also shared his philosophy for doing his job.
“He always told me 'Think about what's the best thing for the village when you make a decision, and you won't be wrong,'” Patterson said.
LaRocca was named village manager in 1985 and served in the role for four years until he retired in 1989.
His retirement didn't last long, however, and months later he was appointed as interim city administrator in Darien. Still, his new commitment to Darien couldn't part him with Addison, and he was elected as a trustee of the Addison Fire Protection District that same year. He was re-elected to the post in 1995, 2001 and 2007.
In addition, the village honored LaRocca in 1995 by renaming the South Wastewater Treatment Plant at 333 S. Villa Ave., as the “A.J. LaRocca Wastewater Treatment Facility.” He also served as president of the Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts from 2001-02.
Current Village Manager Joe Block said LaRocca's commitment to Addison is rare and inspired others.
“He was literally a guy that came from the bottom of the organization up,” Block said. “He served this community in some form or fashion for 50 years and, on top of it, so many of the people he hired are still here for decades.”
A primary reason so many of LaRocca's protégés remain is due to the feeling of family he fostered, Patterson said.
“He would always break that veil of professionalism and touch you personally and you'd think, this guy, he cares,” Patterson said. “And it was sincere.”
Visitation for LaRocca will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at the Addison Village Hall Rotunda, 1 Friendship Plaza. A funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, from village hall to St. Philip the Apostle Church for Mass at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
Addison village hall will be closed to public business beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, and will reopen at 10 a.m. the following day.