San Antonio and Fairport communities are mourning the loss of two centenarian World War II veterans who recently passed away. Natividad Rocha, a San Antonio native, died at the age of 102. His passing was marked by reflections on his full life and service, as reported by FOX SA. Contrastingly, another veteran, Robert “Al” Persichitti, met his end en route to the D-Day commemorations in Europe.
Natividad Rocha, who served in Hawaii from 1942 to 1945, left an enduring legacy, reflected in his large family and the stories he shared of his wartime experience. He is remembered for his love of life, music, and family. As his daughter Maria Pattison told FOX SA, "He lived a beautiful life. He was 102." Rocha's 77-year marriage and 11 children are a testament to the fullness of his century-plus years. His positive outlook was encapsulated in his regular affirmation, "La vida es preciosa. Muy hermosa. Muy hermosa."
Meanwhile, the journey of Persichitti, also 102, took an unforeseen turn when he felt ill during a stop in a German hospital, where he later passed away. Persichitti, a resident of Fairport, New York, was on his way to the 80th-anniversary D-Day ceremonies, a significant milestone for any World War II veteran. His long-time priest and friend, Rev. William Leone, remembered him as a committed attendee of World War II commemorations and shared his unfortunate passing with WHAM by saying, "But the Lord took him in Germany. He was on his way to France, but he didn’t make it."
Persichitti's final moments were filled with the sound of his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, as a companion and doctor, Al DeCarlo, ensured his last memories would be accompanied by the melodies he loved. "She put his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, on her phone and he peacefully left us," DeCarlo told WHAM. Both veterans leave behind legacies defined not only by their service during a global conflict but by the individual lives they touched and the resilient spirit they embodied well into their centennial years.
