Augustine V. 'Rocky' 'Gus' Rancatore

Waltham – Mr. Augustine V. ‘Rocky’ ‘Gus’ Rancatore, of Waltham, died, Sunday, September 12, 2010 at his home. He was 77.

Rocky was born in Cambridge on October 14, 1932, a son of the late Michael and Dorothy Rancatore, and had been a Cambridge resident before moving to Waltham in 1956. He was a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School and Bentley College in Boston. Rocky was a veteran of the United States Army having served in theatre during the Korean War.

Until his retirement in 1996 he worked as the chief of the compliance division of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. After that he kept busy as a child care volunteer at Grace Chapel in Lexington. Rocky also took on a job in retirement at Watertown Savings Bank at their Warrendale branch where customers and fellow workers alike always appreciated his cheerful presence every day.

Always active throughout his life he was a former member of the Sons of Italy in Waltham and, along with his late wife, the St. Jude’s Couple’s Club. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and years ago sang with his buddies in a Barbershop Quartet in Cambridge. Most recently Rocky was a member of the Watertown Savings Bowling Team and bowled with his son, Jim, in the Watertown Men’s Bowling League.

Rocky was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Rita M. (Cecchi) Rancatore, who died on June 19, 2009.

He leaves his children, James S. Rancatore and his wife, Brenda, of Billerica, Elaine M. Rancatore, M.D. of Miramar, Florida, Paul V. Rancatore and his wife, Kathy, of Vero Beach, Florida, Lisa A. Cerci and her husband, Keith, and Laura L. Rancatore and her husband, Jon Julien, all of Waltham; his grandchildren, Erica Rancatore, Adele, Emily and Sydney Julien and Andrei and Olivia Cerci; his brother and sister, Richard Rancatore of Newburyport and Anna M. Tobin of Hampton, New Hampshire and many nieces and nephews.

Rocky was also the beloved nephew of the late James Rancatore.

Family and friends will honor and remember Rocky’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, September 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.