house Resolution No.52

The Speaker, on behalf of the entire membership, offered the following resolution:

A resolution of tribute offered as a memorial for Sal Rocca, former member of the House of Representatives.

Whereas, It was with great sorrow that the members of the this legislative body learned about the passing of Sal Rocca. He will be remembered as a dedicated public servant who was deeply committed to his constituents in Macomb County and the people of the state of Michigan during more than two decades of service in the House of Representatives; and

Whereas, Born in Italy, Sal Rocca's family immigrated to Windsor, Ontario, and then settled in Detroit, Michigan, when he was 13. He attended the industrial technology program at Cass Technical High School and Macomb Community College and completed the real estate institute program offered by the University of Michigan and the Michigan Association of Realtors. He worked as a journeyman skilled tradesman at General Motors, and he was a licensed real estate broker for many years. He married Suzanne J. Marshall and raised two children, Michael Christopher and Tory Matthew; and

Whereas, Sal Rocca devoted most of his adult life to public service. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1974, Representative Rocca served 11 terms in the House from 1975 to 1980, 1983 to 1994, and 2001 to 2004. During his service, he sponsored numerous pieces of legislation that were enacted into law, including the Michigan Great Lakes Bottomlands Preserves Act, the Michigan Charter Boat Act, and the Prisoner Reimbursement Act. Additionally, he led the passage of legislation to improve tanker truck safety and to construct the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Monument at the Michigan Capitol; and

Whereas, As a trusted leader in the Legislature, he served as Dean of the House and held leadership roles on many committees, including as the chair of the Regulatory Reform Committee, Liquor Control Committee, and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and as vice chair of the committees on Public Health, Gaming and Casino Oversight, and State Affairs; and

Whereas, Sal Rocca was committed to improving the lives of his constituents and his community. He made constituent services and problem solving for his constituents a principal focus of his work. In addition to legislative service, he was a member of numerous community organizations and served on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners from 1995 to 2000; and

Whereas, Upon his passing, we offer condolences to his family and friends. We hope that they may find comfort in the knowledge that the community shares in their bereavement and that the legacy of Sal Rocca's contributions will long continue to enrich our state; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we offer this expression of our highest tribute to honor the memory of Sal Rocca, a member of the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1980, 1983 to 1994, and 2001 to 2004; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Rocca family as evidence of our lasting esteem for his memory.