Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Mike LaRocca sits at Bachman Park, one of the parks for which he has been responsible. He says it's his favorite town park.

The keeper of the town streets and parks retires

By Clarence Cromwell

After 30 years with the town of Los Gatos, Director of Parks Forestry and Maintenance Mike LaRocca will retire June 21.

Reclining at the end of the huge, polished conference table in the Miles Avenue service center last week, the director spoke softly, with measured words, about his career, retirement and baseball. He doesn't sit still like this often.

LaRocca is the only department manager to have worked his way up from a ground-floor position. He started out as a warehouseman in February 1968 and later served as maintenance supervisor and maintenance superintendent, before being appointed director of the department. Only one other employee has worked for the town longer than LaRocca.

La Rocca later studied supervision and municipal management at West Valley College and San Jose State University.

LaRocca's idea of taking it easy is riding his bike to work on Saturday and Sunday, rather than driving his car.

"He is as dedicated to public service as anyone I've ever met," Town Manager Dave Knapp said. "We're sure going to miss him."

Knapp praised LaRocca for running his department well, even after the town cut two employees a few years ago.

LaRocca distinguished himself with projects like the restoration of the Maria's Berry Farm house, the historical building that's now home to the Parks, Forestry and Maintenance Department on Miles Avenue, and the conversion of police cars' engines to allow compressed natural-gas fueling.

LaRocca's Bay Area peers chose him as Outstanding Public Works Superintendent of 1995.

Aside from his work with the town, LaRocca has also been active in the community, senior deputy town clerk MarLyn Rasmussen said. He coaxed community leaders into forming the Los Gatos Community Foundation, an umbrella nonprofit group that handles money for local charities. LaRocca said he wants to work with local service clubs after his retirement.

He's also trying to convince West Valley and Chabot colleges to offer classes for maintenance workers, which he'd like to teach.

One perk of being retired: now LaRocca can attend all the San Francisco 49ers and Giants games he wants. He's been a 49ers season-ticket holder since 1978. He said he'll probably go to every home game.

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