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Louis Zocchi is a World War II veteran, a police officer, farmer and racquetball enthusiast, among other things.
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Karola Walden, activities director for the Commons talks with Zocchi about his experiences.

Retired North Adams Police Officer Turns 100

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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Retired North Adams Police Officer Louis Zocchi celebrated his 100th birthday on April 18.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Louis Zocchi's advice for reaching century mark is simple: Keep breathing and keep ahead.  

The retired North Adams police officer celebrated his 100th birthday last Saturday with some 50 relatives from as far away as Texas and Ohio.

On Thursday morning, his peers at North Adams Commons shared birthday cake and memories with the World War II veteran.

Zocchi, the son of Angelo and Ernesta Zocchi, was raised on a farm that he continued to work most of his life.

"I had quite a garden," he said.

His daughter, Louise Zocchi, said it was far more than that. "We never bought vegetables," she said.

Her father operated the farm — raising chickens and keeping rows of vegetables and pear, peach and apple trees — while also working full time on the North Adams Police Department.

Zocchi worked at the former Wall-Streeter Co. and as a reserve patrol officer until joining the Army and rising to staff sergeant. He was appointed as a permanent officer in 1944 and became the force's fingerprint and photography expert. He also was the department's meter mechanic, taking care of the parking meters, and had stood guard all night on a rooftop with a rifle as the Berkshire Bank and Trust moved to its new quarters in the Berkshire Plaza.

In 1974, a few years before retiring, he and his brother-in-law, William Benedetti, were named Officers of the Year.

"I walked a beat, Main Street and Holden Street," said Zocchi.

Eileen O'Grady, assistant activities director at the Commons, said Zocchi knew every kid in the neighborhood — and where they were supposed to be.

"Every night, he would be on Main Street," she said. "Then as soon as the lights came on, he sent us all home."


Farming and policing weren't Zocchi's only talents — he ran track and was a boxer and a singer. He is still fluent in Italian and spoke several other languages.

"He could do a lot of stuff," said his daughter.

Zocchi's memory is a little fuzzy nowadays, but he recalled going down to the old Meadowbrook Arena and seeing Archie Moore.

"I boxed, but that was a long time ago," he said. "I had to keep ahead. When they start swinging it's too late."

Zocchi also was a "pacer" for the Williams College runners, running out ahead of them to set the pace. He also liked to watch the St. Anthony Crusaders football team and was a member of a bowling league. He later worked at former Green Mountain Race Track in Pownal, Vt. He liked to fish, mostly at Fish Pond because the best fishing was there.

This photo is listed as being 'Patrolman Zoechi' but Zocchi didn't think it was him. His daughter said Randy Trabold, the longtime Transcript photographer, was always taking her father's picture.

He also loved playing racquetball, his daughter said. "He never stopped, he'd just go and go."

Karola Walden, activities director for the Commons, said that hasn't changed much, with Zocchi still wanting to be active. Asked what he does now, Zocchi said with a little smile: "Breathing."

He said his favorite spot in the city was Holden Street, but couldn't quite remember why. His daughter thought it was because that's where all the food stores were, recalling how they would go down there to buy sausages from the butchers and giant wheels of parmesan. Their home was always filled with family and friends and big dinners, she said. "People didn't call back then, they just showed up."

Zocchi was also very involved in the former St. Anthony's Parish, singing in the choir and cooking up Italian fare for the annual bazaar.

"He sings beautifully, and sings songs of praise and perfection," said O'Grady.

Zocchi offered a little Italian and a little tune before turning his attention back to his birthday cake.

He and his wife, the former Erminia Benedetti, were married in St. Anthony's Church in 1947. She died in 2004 at age 91. In addition to Louise, they had another daughter, Mary E. Zocchi, and a son, William Zocchi of Pittsfield. He also has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Asked how it felt to celebrate 100 years, Zocchi shrugged. "It was just another day."


Tags: centenarian,   north adams police,   

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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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