Rocco Palmieri

Rocco Palmieri, son of the late Archangelo and Rose Palmieri of Gardner, was a graduate of Gardner High School, Class of 1951. He proudly played on the 1950 Massachusetts Class B Championship Football Team and the North Worcester County All-Star Team. He later graduated from the Art Institute of Boston, where he served as class president.

Rocco served in the U.S. Army as a radio operator, where he was stationed in Alaska from 1953 to 1955 with the 1740 HQ Battery, 450th AAA Battalion during the Korean War, serving as a corporal, followed by the Army Reserve and honorably discharged in 1961. Following his service, he worked for Sylvania/GTE/General Dynamics for more than forty years, retiring in 1997.

A dedicated artist and community member, Rocco joined the Leominster Art Association in 1968 and served as its president from 1972–1976. He worked with the Leominster Historical Commission and Historical Society, contributing his art and photography talents to several local history books. He helped establish the WWII/Korean War Monument at Carter Park and was a proud member of American Legion Post 151.

Rocco was predeceased by his brothers Michael and John, his sister Ada Dintino, and his son-in-law Jeffrey Sargent. He leaves his loving wife of 66 years, Venerina Ferrera Palmieri; his children, Anthony and his wife Lori, Daniel and his wife Megan, and Susan Sargent; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.

He will be remembered for the lasting impact he made on his family and community.

Funeral services and burial will be private.

In memory of Rocco, donations can be made to the Leominster Historical Commission or the Leominster Veterans Center.