Anthony J. Iarocci, ^^[1]

Abt 1913 - 1944  (~ 31 years)

• Name	Anthony J. Iarocci
  Suffix	^
  Born	Abt 1913	New Rochelle, Westchester, NY   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1930	Bellport, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [2]
  	He is living with his parents. He was a gardener.
  Occupation	Aft Apr 1938	Brookhaven, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [1, 3]
  	proprietor of the Better 'Ole restaurant
  Military	Aft 8 Apr 1942	WW II   [1, 4]
  	in the United States Army
  Died	1 Mar 1944	Anzio, Italy   [1, 4, 5]
  	Cause: killed in action, WW II. Awarded: Purple Heart posthumously.
  	Patchogue Advance, 30 Mar 1944. Sgt. A. J. Iarocci Dies in Action, Report from Italy N. Bellporter Ran "Better Ole" in Brookhaven Also at Bellport Country Club—"All Right" Message Late Staff Sgt. Anthony J. "Tony" Iarocci, age 31, former proprietor of The Better 'Ole, Brookhaven restaurant, has been killed in action in Italy, the War department reports in a telegram received at 11 p.m. Saturday by his mother, Mrs. Josephine Iarocci of North Bellport, mother of six sons in military service. Less than 15 minutes after the telegram had been received, a telephone call was received at the Iarocci home from a merchant marine sailor, just arrived in New York, who said he was fulfilling a promise made late last month to Sergeant Inrocci, who had said, "When you get to New York, please phone my mother and tell her I'm all right." The telephone caller, whose name was not gotten because of the excitement wrought by the telegram, was greatly shocked when told the news of Sergeant Iarocci's death. Sergeant Iarocci, who had been on the Anzio beachhead in Italy, met his death on March 1, "in action in the defense of his country," the War department telegram stated. In a letter dated March 1, that was probably the last one he wrote, received about two weeks ago by his mother, Sergeant Iarocci expressed the hope of getting a furlough within a few months, during which he could come home. Sergeant Iarocci, who was unmarried, was born in New Rochelle, but spent most of his life in North Bellport. He attended the Bellport public schools, and on leaving school, was engaged in the landscaping business, assisting his late father, Martin Iarocci, Sr. Afterward, he became bartender in the Bellport Country club, and held similar jobs in other parts of the county before becoming proprietor of the Better 'Ole, which he operated for four years. He joined the Army on April 8, 1942. He was sent overseas with an Army engineers unit in January 1943. Immediately before his induction, he had the dining room and grill concession of the Bellport Country club, where he served as steward. The Iarocci family has one of Suffolk county's outstanding military service records. Mrs. Iaocci's other sons, all in the Army, are Sgt. Joseph Iaocci, 44, who is in Hawaii; Sgt. Nicholas Iarocci, 38, in Florida; Pvt. Martin Iarocci, 28, at Fort Belvoir, Va.; Pvt. Michael Iarocci, 26, in New York, and Sgt. Thomas Iarocci, 24, at Camp Shelby, Miss. Mrs. Iarocci also has three daughters, two of whom are married to men in military service, and the third is the wife of a veteran of World War I. They are Mrs. Lawrence Musso of North Bellport, whose husband is a seaman, second class, aboard the U.S.S. Bunker Hill; Mrs. Thomas Brienza of North Bellport, whose husband is an Army private stationed at Narragansett pier, R. I., and Mrs. Anthony Citarella of Patchogue, whose husband served in the first World war. Mrs. Iarocci, who was twice a widow, also has one son by a former marriage, John F. D'Ambrosio of North Bellport. A high mass for Sergeant Iarocci will be offered at 9 a.m. tomorrow in St. Joseph R. C. church, Hagerman.
  Person ID	I13246	Brookhaven & South Haven Hamlets
  Last Modified	2 Jun 2010

  
  

  Father	Martin Iarocci, Sr. >,   b. Abt 1871, Italy ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Mother	Josephine [Iarocci], >,   b. Abt 1886, Italy ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	Y  [1, 2]
  Residence	1930	Bellport, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [2]
  	Address: Fuoco Avenue
  Family ID	F4828	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  World War II Memorial Plaque .. placed in the Brookhaven hamlet, New York, Memorial park.

  
  

• Sources

  [S127] Advance, Long Island, Obituary. 30 Mar 1944. Page 1. [S129] 1930 Census, Census Place: Brookhaven, Suffolk, New York; Roll 1650; Page: 37A; Enumeration District: 38; Image: 398.0. [S127] Advance, Long Island, 29 Apr 1938, p. 5, 7. Better 'Ole Reopens Specializing in dinners and parties and featuring a new tap room, the former Villa Verde on the South Country road, Brookhaven, has been reopened as the Better 'Ole by Tony Iarocci, formerly with the Bellport Country Club. A grand opening is being planned, an announcement to be made next week. Fritz Wagner, who has been with Eddie Doyle of Babylon and Jack Brown of Lake Ronkonkoma, is tending bar. Many alterations have been made, including redecorating. A big summer season is anticipated with facilities in readiness for parties of all kinds and dinners large and small. An advertisement announced the opening of The Better 'Ole also appeared in this issue. [S776] WW II Memorial Plaque. [S127] Advance, Long Island, 4 May 1944. p. 1. Posthumous Award Given Sgt. Iarocci, who Died at Anzio The Order of the Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously to Staff Sgt. Anthony J. "Tony" Iarocci, who was killed in action March 1 on the Anzio beachhead in Italy, according to a War department letter received by his mother, Mrs. Josephine Iarocci of North Bellport. Sergeant Iarocci, one of six brothers in military service, formerly was proprietor of The Better 'Ole restaurant in Brookhaven, and immediately before entering military service, he had the dining room and grill concession of the Bellport Country club, where he served as steward. He was unmarried.