My all-time favorite baseball manager, Leo Durocher used to refer to Branch Rickey, the former general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Pittsburgh Pirates as “the big man in my life.”  He did this because of the support Rickey gave him in his development as a player with the Cardinals and later as a manager with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

In my political career, I went as high and as far as I could have hoped, highlighted by my service as Executive Director of the State of New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and as Regional Administrator of United States Region 2 Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush.  I was fortunate to have the support of several “big men” along the way: Gil Medina, Chuck Haytaian, and Lew Eisenberg.

But the “big man” who gave me my start in full time politics, the man who made it all possible for me was Dr. John A. Rocco.  I was not only fortunate to have John’s support and assistance:  I was most proud.  There were few public servants in the history of New Jersey finer than John Rocco.  There were few more accomplished, dedicated, and effective educators than John Rocco.  And literally, there was no better family, no better marriage than that of John and Millie Rocco.

So when I learned that John had passed away a few minutes before I began my Passover Seder last Wednesday night, I was naturally saddened.  But I was intensely grateful to the Almighty for having had John come into my life four decades ago.  And while I am saddened by his passing, I feel blessed to have had his friendship and brotherhood.

Usually, when one gives a panegyric lauding a recently deceased political figure, he or she will start by noting the subject’s political and governmental achievements.  But his most substantial political accomplishments were not the essence of John Rocco.  His essence can best be found in understanding John Rocco the family man and John Rocco the educator.  Indeed, the life of John Rocco can best be defined as a genuine Horatio Alger story, the fulfillment of the American Dream.

Born in 1936 in Philadelphia to impoverished Italian-American parents, John embarked on his path upward by gaining acceptance at age 6 to Girard College, the famed Philadelphia boarding school for orphaned and underprivileged children.

Graduating at 18, he then earned his undergraduate degree from West Chester University, where he starred on the soccer team.  He later earned a master’s degree in education from Villanova University and a doctorate in education from Rutgers University.

John quickly proved himself to be a superb educator.  He became the principal at Cherry Hill’s highly regarded Woodcrest School at the age of 28 in 1964 and served in that capacity until 1968.  He then began a new career in teacher education, serving successively in the positions of associate professor at Camden County College, and then as the school’s director of continuing education, a professor of education at Rider College, and later after his political career, a professor of education policy at Rowan University.

Meanwhile, John and his wife, Millie whom he married in 1957, and their daughters, Connie and Sandy were becoming known to their fellow Cherry Hill residents as one of the finest families in the community.  No marriage was more close and loving, and they were magnificent parents.  And the four Roccos constituted one of the most attractive families in all New Jersey!  It was a true joy to spend time with the Roccos.

So it was natural that the Republican Party in Cherry Hill, seeking a comeback in the post-Watergate years, should recruit John Rocco to run for municipal office.  He was elected to the municipal council in 1975 and served as mayor from 1975 to 1977 and as a councilman from 1977 to 1979.

John’s popularity made him a prime prospect for the state legislative races in 1979, when the GOP was seeking to regain the two Assembly seats in the Sixth District.  He and his running mate, former Camden County Prosecutor Tom Shusted of Haddonfield defeated the two incumbents, and John began an eighteen-year tenure in the Assembly.

Rocco quickly became a highly popular figure in Trenton on a bipartisan basis.  He served in the GOP Assembly Leadership positions of assistant minority whip, speaker pro tempore, and deputy speaker.  His education expertise was recognized by his being selected as chair of the Assembly Education Committee and vice chair of the Joint Committee on Public Schools.

John’s expertise was all-inclusive.  He could grasp the significance of every education issue from each vantage point, including administrator, classroom teacher, teacher educator, and even student.  He and another education professor in the Assembly, Democrat Joe Doria formed one of the most effective bipartisan partnerships on education legislation in modern New Jersey history.

I had become close personally to John during his various campaigns, including serving as his campaign treasurer in 1981.   In 1992, John Rocco brought about something I longed for:  Full time involvement in the political/governmental realm.

I had been serving as a general counsel of a company in Manhattan in the apparel industry, and my job was eliminated in November, 1991 in a company downsizing.  In that same month, the NJGOP captured veto-proof control of both houses of the legislature.

John suggested that I join him as Republican Assembly Education Committee Aide, as a member of the Assembly Republican Staff.  I went to Trenton, where I was interviewed by incoming Assembly Republican Speaker Chuck Haytaian and Executive Director Don Sico.  I was hired, and the rest was history.

It was a real joy to serve with John, and it was a real honor to serve on that Assembly Republican Staff  and with members of the Assembly who were true legislative giants, including Haytaian, Rocco, Jack Collins, Charlotte Vandervalk, Nick Felice, Rodney Frelinghuysen, Bob Franks, Rich Bagger, Bob Shinn, Frank LoBiondo, Paul Kramer, Walt Kavanaugh, Dick Kamin, Alex DeCroce, and Dave Wolfe.  Many members of that Assembly Republican staff would go on to serve in future federal and state administrations, key lobbying roles, campaign consulting firms, and Congressional staff roles.

And my brotherhood with John Rocco would continue.  He introduced me in January, 1994 to the incoming state Commerce Commissioner, Gil Medina and recommended that he hire me as Assistant Commissioner.  Upon John’s recommendation, Gil hired me, and that job was also most career enhancing and enjoyable.  And Gil and I likewise became lifelong friends.

The apogee of my career was reached with my appointment as Region 2 EPA Administrator by President George W. Bush in September, 2005.  John attended my swearing in, and it gave me much satisfaction to thank him in my remarks.

Yet more than anything else, there was one memory of John Rocco that will forevermore define our brotherhood.

John and I were both strong supporters of Ronald Reagan whose 1980 campaign in New Jersey John chaired.  At the 1980 Republican Convention in Detroit, Reagan asked John to give a nomination seconding speech.  These words of John will stay with me forever:

“My parents were Italian-Americans who believed in the promise of America.  In my lifetime, I saw that America was a land of opportunity and that the American Dream could be achieved.  My parents would be most proud that I stand here tonight, nominating a great American for President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, who will make it possible for millions of American young people watching on television right now to achieve their American Dream.”

Dr. John A. Rocco’s life of achievement was proof that the American Dream can become a reality.  He was living proof that one could achieve over major obstacles in life and still retain his or her character, ethics, and integrity.  We have lost John, but his goodness and greatness will live on.

My life was blessed with the friendship of John Rocco.  Rest in peace, Brother John.

Alan J. Steinberg served as Regional Administrator of Region 2 EPA during the administration of former President George W. Bush and as executive director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.