Patrick Rocca:DUBLIN BUSINESSMAN Patrick Rocca, who has died aged 42, enjoyed success in his career through his family's ownership of retailers Rocca Tiles and Tilebusters, and later through his own personal commercial property interests.
Mr Rocca died last Monday at his home in Porterstown, Castleknock, west Dublin, in tragic circumstances.
His solicitor, Michael Lavelle of Dublin law firm Lavelle Coleman, said: “I met Patrick last week and, based on details discussed at last week’s meeting, there were no significant financial issues that would have affected him or his businesses prior to his death.”
A member of a well-known Irish-Italian family, Mr Rocca’s business interests can be traced to his grandfather, Edgidio “Nano” Rocca, who worked on the rebuilding of the Four Courts after they were destroyed during the Civil War in the 1920s. His son, also Patrick, founded Rocca Tiles in 1976.
Patrick jnr became involved in the tile retailer in 1983 at the age of 18. Later, as managing director of the company, running the business with his older sister, Laura, Mr Rocca helped to develop the firm from a one-store operation into a nationwide chain of nine outlets with 50 employees.
Mr Rocca and his family decided to sell a majority stake in their company to a consortium of businessmen in 2000 so he could work from home, spending more time with his wife Annette and their two sons, Patrick and Stuart.
He increased his investment portfolio by buying commercial properties in Ireland and Britain with blue-chip corporate tenants which guaranteed Mr Rocca strong rents. He was a director and shareholder of a number of Irish firms, including his main holding company, Accorp Properties.
During the property boom, he purchased about 20 properties in Britain worth about €300 million, including a distribution centre for retailer Argos in Bedford purchased for €100 million.
He also owned a large office block, Holbrook House, on Holles Street in Dublin. The businessman preferred to work from home using independent advisers, professionals and property agents in Ireland and Britain rather than employing his own staff.
Mr Rocca’s close friend, businessman John Roe, his next-door neighbour in Porterstown, said the two men became close about 15 years ago when they moved into the same street and they had completed several business deals together. “ He was a fantastic character. For him, it was always about Annette and the boys,” he said.
Another close friend, businessman Stephen Byrne, said Mr Rocca took great satisfaction pushing his friends to achieve their goals. “Failure was never an option for him,” he said.
Last year, Mr Rocca invested in Progressive News Media (PNM), a Cork publisher which produces the social magazine, RSVP, where Mr Rocca’s wife is fashion editor. He took a 12.5 per cent stake in the business and used his sales and marketing expertise from Rocca Tiles to help the company grow from a regional publisher into one with national magazine titles.
Michael Mulcahy, chief executive of PNM, said Mr Rocca was “a determined businessman with a lot of foresight – and sales and marketing expertise – who could see the bigger picture.”
He drove a sports Bentley and owned a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, which he lent to former US president Bill Clinton on his recent visits to Ireland. The two men grew to become close friends.
Mr Rocca’s wife, Annette, said “He was my best friend and soul mate,” she said. “It was a large blow to the family to lose such a mentor and driving force in our lives. He will be sorely missed, but we have no doubt that Patrick’s spirit will always live within us and guide us through the future. We loved him so much.”
While Mr Rocca and his wife were well-known on the Dublin social scene – organising and attending balls and parties in Dublin and near their holiday home in Marbella, Spain – he guarded his family’s privacy.
Mr Rocca counted Irish international goalkeeper Shay Given and television presenter Brian Ormond among his close friends.
His family also gained prominence in the public eye through Mr Rocca’s sister, Michelle, a former Miss Ireland who is partner to musician Van Morrison.
A dedicated family man and friend, Mr Rocca supported many charities and community groups, and helped with his sons’ local scout organisation in Castleknock and their soccer team, Castleknock Celtic.
He is survived by Annette; their sons Patrick (14) and Stuart (11); his parents, Paddy and Maureen; and his siblings, Paula, Michelle, Laura, Bernard and Lisa.
Patrick Rocca: born 1966; died January 19th, 2009