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thedrifter
01-17-05, 06:40 AM
Marine sergeant served in war and peace

By Jerry Vondas
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, January 14, 2005


As one of the nation's telecommunications pioneers, Rocco L. Flaminio, vice chairman and chief technology officer of Tollgrade Communications Inc., was called upon to use his skills in both war and peace.
During the Korean and Vietnam wars, Mr. Flaminio installed warning signals for the Strategic Air Command, wrote technical manuals for the Defense Department and briefed such high-ranking officials as generals Matthew Ridgway and William Westmoreland and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara.

Mr. Flaminio, of Washington Township, Westmoreland County, who designed the telecommunications system for Pittsburgh International Airport, died on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005, at his home. He was 80.

As a Marine sergeant during World War II, Mr. Flaminio's radio skills helped to steer his squad from impending danger, an action that earned him a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. His daughter, Christina Canton, said he was wounded in the war when his Jeep hit a land mine but later returned to combat.





In recent years, although ill with hepatitis, Mr. Flaminio continued to travel around the globe as a technological consultant to corporations and trade associations.

It was that commitment to excel in whatever task he undertook that marked Mr. Flaminio's 38-year career with Bell Telephone, and his co-founding in 1988 of Tollgrade Communications, based in Cheswick, his family said.

Chris Allison, Tollgrade's chairman and chief executive officer, recalled Mr. Flaminio as "being the toughest nice guy I've ever met."

"Rocco also distinguished himself for his country in three theaters of war (World War II, Korea and Vietnam) and created a family of which they are very proud. He never saw his work as complete, but instead looked for the next problem to solve."

Born and raised in Saltsburg, Indiana County, Mr. Flaminio was one of three sons of Thomas and Julia Antenucci Flaminio, who emigrated from Italy. His father was a railroader.

In 1942, following graduation from Saltsburg High School, where he played football, basketball, ran track and was the class valedictorian, Mr. Flaminio was offered a scholarship to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.

"Dad turned down the opportunity to go to Annapolis and opted to join the Marines so he could fight," Canton said.

In 1947, Mr. Flaminio married Elizabeth Pieples, whom he met when she was working at a candy store in New Kensington.

While working at Bell, Mr. Flaminio made it possible for his younger brothers, Herman and Thomas, to attend what is now Carnegie Mellon University and find employment with Bell. Upon their retirement, both joined Mr. Flaminio at Tollgrade.

Mr. Flaminio is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Pieples Flaminio; two daughters, Christina Canton and her husband, Charles, of Chevy Chase, Md., and Nancy Meagher and her husband, William, of Cape Cod, Mass.; six grandchildren; and his brothers, Thomas Flaminio of Saltsburg, Indiana County, and Herman Flaminio, of Franklin Park.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Brady-Curran Funeral Home, 429 Franklin Ave., Vandergrift, Westmoreland County.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Gertrude Catholic Church, Vandergrift. Interment will take place at Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County.



Jerry Vondas can be reached at jvondas@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7823.


Ellie

Rest In Peace