Raritan Athletes of Yesteryear
Frank J. Del Rocco - Quarterback for Somerville High School 1950
An All County Quarterback on a last place team
He lived at 1 Canal Street (on the corner of Thompson & Canal.)
When asked today about the 1950 season he still remembers much:
He recalls that on the positive side that they had new uniforms. (That was rare in 1950.)
However, on the negative side, they had a tough schedule.
The Coach, Ernie Gardner, was in his first year - and he introduced them to a new system, the "T" formation.
It took time for the playrers to learn it, but they eventually "got it" as they won the last two games.
One of these victories was against Highland Park and then on Thanksgiving Day they beat their rival Bound Brook 7-6.
It was Frank who kicked the extra point which turned out to be the margin of victory.
The very next season (after Frank graduated) the Somerville High School Football Team were champions, so they must of started something good.
After high school Frank joined the military and served in the Korea War.
He attended the College of the Armed Forces where he earned his MBA.
Frank and his wife Frances were married in 1955 at St Ann's Church, Raritan. Today they have 5 children and 7 grandchildren.

Before going into business for himself he was a Vice President at Pan Am and also a VP at Dyn Corp.
Another high ranking position he had was Executive VP for MCI Communications and MCI International.
In 1982 he moved to Florida and opened Jiffy Lube franchises. They were the first in the marketplace and helped build the industry in South Florida. They would own & operate a number of Jiffy Lube locations.
After many years he sold the Jiffy Lube stores and went in to the mortgage lending business, and then the real estate title business.
He closed his last business two years ago and is now retired