Edward Rakocy

DetroitMedia.com, 11/10/2009

RAKOCY EDWARD (ROCKY)was born on July 10, 1915 in what was then known as Delray, Michigan. He passed away on November 9, 2009 at the age of 94. He graduated from St. John Cantius Elementary School and then River Rouge High School in 1934. During his high school years he excelled in sports.

Shortly after graduation he was invited to play professional baseball where he spent two years in Lake Charles, two years in Hot Springs and one year in Montgomery, Alabama.

His professional baseball career was interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps and spent four years in the South Pacific.

After servicing in the 5th Air Force Division he returned to River Rouge and worked at Ford Motor Company in a supervisory capacity in what was known as the "glass house".

In 1948, he married Stella Stefanick, also a resident of River Rouge and an employee of Ford Motor Company. They were married for 15 years before her untimely death. Playing golf has been Rocky's favorite past time. He was a 40 year member of the West Shore Golf and Country Club in Grosse Ile. Here he had the opportunity to play and meet some of the finest in the world of sports.

Rocky was not one to boast of his accomplishments and was shy to tell anyone he made a hole in one at the 10th hole on this gold course.

Rocky exercised his sharp memory in providing answers to the most difficult trivia questions related to the world of sports.

In addition, he enjoyed watching the ticker tape announcements related to the stock market and challenged his memory to make predictions.

Rocky was a dear brother to Walter, Henry, Genevieve and Fr. Richard. He was also a loving uncle to Linda (Michael), David (Cindy), and grand uncle to Jennifer, Joel (Theresa) and Kasi. Rocky was preceded in death by his beloved wife Stella, parents Andrew and Sophie and siblings Frank, Valerie, Fr. John and Harry.

Visitation Wednesday 1-9p.m. with a 7p.m. Wake Service at Czopek Funeral Directors, 2157 Oak Street, Wyandotte (734) 285-9000. Funeral Services Thursday Prayers 9:30am from Czopek to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church for 10a.m. Mass.

Interment Our Lady of Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to either the Orchard Lake Seminary or Capuchin Soup Kitchen.