'Indescribable Heartbreak' For Family Of Long Island Man Killed In Alleged Hit-And-Run

HOLBROOK, NY — Richard DiRocco was known in Holbrook for his walks in the community.

That's how he got to know his neighbors.

He did so much walking that his family routinely needed to replace his worn-out sneakers.

In his final steps not far from his Sheets Avenue home, he was struck by a vehicle that did not stop and left him in the roadway without stopping, Suffolk police say.

His niece, Chelsea Nichols, remembers her mother Julie's brother as "Uncle Ricky."

News of his death spread quickly and many neighbors rallied around DiRocco's family in their time of need.

Nichols was taken by surprise by the number of people who reached out to her family.

"He was loved by many," she told Patch Thursday afternoon.

DiRocco lived the best life that he could while struggling with challenges, so Nichols figured that he just went about his life and kept to himself, but she was wrong.

"He was a happy person, and I didn't realize how many people in that community that he lived in knew him," she said.

Many who reached out described him as the "mayor" of the roadway where he lived.

He would play with their dogs, have coffee with them, exchange waves, and have brief conversations on his walks.

The stories meant a lot to DiRocco's family.

At the suggestion of the community, in his honor, the family has started a GoFundMe, which so far has raised $850 out of its $1,000 goal.

They plan to donate the money to a charity, though they have not decided which one.

To his family, DiRocco was the kindest man that could ever be imagined — a gentle soul, who was "a treasure to them" and his loss has left them devastated, older sister, Susan Hartl said.

"It's indescribable heartache," she said.

DiRocco and his two sisters grew up in Sayville, and as a teenager he was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, something he struggled with his whole life, Hartl said.

Hartl got married and moved away to Rockland County, and her family later moved to East Hampton, which made it easier for the patriarch of the family to run the Snowflake Ice Cream franchise. The family no longer has any connection to the last remaining location in Riverhead.

DiRocco's family kept in touch with him by visiting his home to check on him and also to bring him to Burger King, which he loved to eat.

For about 30 years, he had been taking a bus to see his mother, 90, in Moriches to spend Saturdays with her.

"She's totally heartbroken," Hartl said.

His mother is inconsolable and has been sobbing in bed — expected of a mother who loved a son deeply and lost him, according to Hartl.

"We never thought we would lose my brother like this," she said, adding that her mother lost another son to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as a baby "years ago." "This is her second son she's lost."

DiRocco, who had been diagnosed autistic and bipolar, had only been living in Holbrook about three years, but he found a place in the community and settled in by forming ties with the local church, Abundant Life Ministries.

"I do hope that we can get some closure with this," Hartl said.

Her son, Matt Hartl, remembered DiRocco as a kind man from seeing him on holidays.

"I always enjoyed seeing him," he said.

Funeral services have been set for Dec. 14 at Abundant Life Ministries in Holbrook.

With arrangements finalized, Nichols will likely travel back to Long Island from upstate for the services.

Speaking of her uncle's death is painful as it stands, and she worries for the community members who still walk on the roadway near where he died due to the reckless driving that she has seen.

Nichols said that she hopes the person who is responsible for causing his death is brought to justice.

"Everyone needs to be careful and be on the lookout and if anyone knows anything, we need to find this person, and they need consequences for their actions."

Police have impounded a pickup truck "in association" with the hit-and-run.

No arrests have been made, a police spokesperson said.

The investigation is continuing.

Even though DiRocco has had struggles, he was a very kind man, Chelsea said.

"He was supposed to live a long life, but I guess he did the best he could and this unfortunate thing happened," she said. "I am still trying to process it."