Written by Doug Goodnough
We’re all about memories here in the Alumni Relations Office. In fact, it is a vital part of our job to help our approximately 17,000 living alumni cherish ones that are sometimes decades old or assist in making new ones, especially when it comes to Hillsdale College.
Recently, some alumni came together who want to do just that. They hope the College will benefit through a new event: the Rocco Abessinio Memorial Pickleball Social. Rocco, a 1982 graduate who by all accounts had a zest for living, sadly passed away on Valentine’s Day 2024. His family and many friends were devastated but soon decided to turn their grief into making a new memory honoring their husband, father, and friend.
“My children and I are dedicated to honoring Rocco’s memory by increasing awareness and raising funds for his passions: the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and Hillsdale College Campus Rec, which includes the sport of pickleball,” said Holly, his widow.
With the help of his family and several of his Hillsdale friends, they created the social, which is scheduled from 1-5 p.m. on September 14 at Court4 Detroit. The registration fee includes pickleball, but people can also just attend the social and enjoy a catered lunch and the company of Rocco’s friends and family.
“When Rocco passed away, I felt the need to help Holly and her family create a legacy to honor Rocco’s passions,” said Michele Hirschfield, ’80, who is one of the driving forces for the event. “He loved his family, and he loved Hillsdale College, the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and pickleball. So that’s how it came about.”
Richard Danforth, ’79, who is a member of the Hillsdale College Alumni Association Board, said he met Rocco 47 years ago when Rocco checked in to Simpson Dorm as a freshman. They became quick friends and eventually fraternity brothers. Danforth is also helping to organize and promote the social.
“We became the best of friends for all of those years,” he said. “It is a truly rich friendship that I wish many more could experience. Rocco will be remembered for that impish grin—that told no one what he was thinking—but we always knew it was good.”
Danforth, who is also a member of the DTD Alumni Advisory Team, said there is an effort to help the Hillsdale chapter find a more long-term housing solution on or near campus, and this event will hopefully draw attention to that effort.
Because it’s a pickleball social, pickles will be a primary theme of the event. From pizza to cornbread, salad dressing, and even mocktails—pickles will be prominent on the menu. However, a primary purpose is to help raise funds for the Delta Tau Delta house fund and the College’s Campus Rec program, which has an annual pickleball tournament. Hirschfield said they are well on their way to their goal of $7,000, but she hopes to eclipse that amount. She said several businesses have stepped up to help offset the cost of the event, and the response has been encouraging.
Remembering Rocco—and helping a couple of great causes in the process—is the goal.
“Rocco enjoyed his time at Hillsdale and our fraternity to the hilt,” Danforth said. “He was part of everything. He didn’t miss out on much.”
To learn more about the Rocco Abessinio Memorial Pickleball Social, click here.
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in September 2024
