Peter "Pete" Joseph Trocano

Peter Joseph Trocano (Pete)

Pete Trocano went to be with the Lord on January 6, 2024.  He passed away at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, shortly after a head injury. He was able to pray with family prior to his passing.

Pete was born in Bergen County, New Jersey on January 12, 1931 to Pasquale (Pat) and Rose Marie (Deleasa) Trocano. After graduating from Hasbrouck Heights High School in 1950, he soon enlisted in the United States Air Force. Pete served in the Strategic Air Command as administrative support in South Dakota.  Later, as a Top-Secret Librarian in London, England, he helped brief aviators regarding the current Soviet threat.

While stationed in South Dakota, he met his sweetheart and soon to be wife, Patricia (Pat) Chasteen of Richmond, Indiana.  They married, moved to London and soon started making their family.

Staff Sargent Peter Trocano left the US Air Force in 1955 and moved his growing family to New Jersey. He worked in local industry and then worked at Bergen County Children's Home where he carried a Truant Officer's Badge. In 1963, Pete moved his family of 8 to the Richmond, Indiana area where his In-laws lived. They were William Robert (Bob) and Bessie (Pennington) Chasteen. Pete and his family joined St. Andrew's Catholic Church and they sent the kids to catholic school when possible. Pete worked in retail and as a manager for Mercury Records.

Looking for a change for his large family, Pete discovered a farm manager's job with Stover Feed and Grain of Greenville, Ohio. In 1969 he moved his family to Hillgrove, near Union City and took over the management of a large poultry starter farm where he raised chicks and poults (baby turkeys). Soon he owned and operated the operation. They joined St. Mary's church in Union City and then St. Mary's in Greenville.

Seeing a change in the market, he sold the farm in 1978 and started working in Greenville at the Ohio Employment Services office.There was a recession and jobs were hard to find. He really loved finding jobs for people and was happy to give advice to everyone. To this day, people would come up to him and thank him for giving them work on the chicken farm and for finding them a good job in town.

Pete had some health problems and retired from the state Employment Services. He stayed active, though, and served as a volunteer. He was elected as the Republican Party Committeeman for Jackson Township and was re-elected for 18 years.  Pete served on the Darke County Metropolitan Housing Authority board and helped start the Darke County Solid Waste Management agency and served on the board. Pete was voted the 2010 Volunteer of the year by "Hands on West Central Ohio" for his many hours of volunteer service to support solid waste recycling and Hospice.

Pete always had a happy word and a smile when visiting the friends he had made while serving in the county. He liked to give $2 bills to the grand kids on holidays. He would say "These are rare, they might be worth something one day!" He always loved to grow food in his garden to feed the family and friends. Family and friends were always most important to Pete. He raised his family as Roman Catholics and always reinforced those values.

Peter J. Trocano was preceded in death by his parents, Pasquale and Rose Marie Trocano and by his younger brother, Pasquale (Pat Junior) and his wife Carmela Trocano. Pete's wife Pat, passed away in 2017 after a long illness and his third son, Michael Anthony Trocano, passed away in 1985 while serving in the US Air Force. Pete also lost his grandson, Justin Trocano in 2016.

Pete Trocano is survived by; Rosemary Trocano-Miller and her husband Dave Miller of Columbus, Ohio, Peter Joseph Trocano, Jr of Orlando, Fl., Robert (Bob) Trocano and his wife Pam Trocano of Union City Ohio, Wini (Trocano) Hittle and her husband Rick Hittle of New Madison, Ohio, Patricia (Peachie) Conklin and her Husband Bryan Conklin of Union City, Indiana.

Pete lived to see 5 generations. He is survived by loving children, cousins, many loving nieces and nephews, and dozens of grandchildren and many great and great-great grandchildren. God has blessed us all thru him.

Memorial Services are being provided by Reichard Funeral Home, Inc. in Union City, Indiana.  A memorial Mass will be prayed at St. Mary's Catholic Church 233 W. 3^rd St, Greenville, OH 45331 on March 23, 2024, at 10:00 am. A grave side service will be held after the Mass, at St. Mary's Cemetery on SR 121 in Greenville. A meal for family and friends will be served after the cemetery service. Please contact Reichard Funeral Home, Inc. at www.reichardfh.com for details.

In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenville, OH.