Richard "Rocky" Rotkiewicz

Mr. Richard “Rocky” Rotkiewicz, 73, died Sunday, July 18, 2021 at the Center for Hope Hospice, Peggy Coloney House in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. 

Rocky, the son of the late Rozalia Lysogurska Rotkiewicz and the late Marian Rotkiewicz, was born in Germany.  Rocky, with his family, immigrated from Germany to England as a young boy & together they then made their way to the United States in 1952.  Rocky lived in Elizabeth, New Jersey before settling in Linden, New Jersey where he has resided for fifty years.

Rocky graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey where he was a varsity basketball player for all four years.

A hard working, self-employed man, Rocky was a wiz at motors and cars.  He operated Rocky’s Auto Repair in Linden for forty-one years and would still be in the garage if his illness had not caught up with him two years ago.  Rocky’s prior work history included being a truck mechanic and an over the road driver for Wilson Freight Company in Elizabeth, New Jersey and he was a member of the Teamster Union Local #560.

In his spare time, Rocky loved his gardening; growing flowers even from seed, as well as, his vegetable garden, specifically his backyard giant tomatoes.  He was always up for going out to dinner with family and friends, especially if it was Italian.  The Chinese buffet was also a favorite of his that became a weekly visit and time spent with his buddy. 

Rocky made his yearly trek to Aruba where he established lifelong friendships with a great circle of friends over the years, that translated into he and Toni getting together for good times and making memories with those friends here in their homes in the States. 

Anyone who knew Rocky, would say he was a special character.  He would do anything for you, fix any object, especially if it were of a mechanical nature; be the neighborhood watch all by himself and make sure all the wayward papers were picked up from the lawns; talk to anyone that strolled past the garage; make you laugh with his funny stories and call his friends on their birthdays to wish them a “happy”.  He was definitely outspoken with his thoughts and opinions, and you always knew where you stood with Rocky.  He will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Rocky is survived by his wife of forty-seven years, Toni Kahn Rotkiewicz; his daughter, Dana Rotkiewicz Ott and her husband, Robert and their family, Jaxon Jamis, Desi and Dante; his brother, Leslie Rotkiewicz, his brother-in-law, his sister-in-law; his niece, his two nephews and numerous cousins, neighbors and friends.

With respect to the family’s wishes, all the services for Rocky will be private.  The family has requested that flowers be omitted and to please make donations in Rocky’s memory to the International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607 or online at http://www.myeloma.org

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.