Leonard Allocco

Leonard Salvatore Allocco was born at Fort Devens in Shirley, Massachusetts on July 18th, 1951 to parents Salvatore Allocco of Summit, New Jersey and Josephine Allocco (née Velazquez) of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Sal was a business major whose occupations included U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, USPS Postmaster, and Real-estate. Josephine studied dietetics and domestic arts, and she became a beloved Spanish teacher. Their second son, David Allocco was born November 26th, 1952 and would become more of a best friend than just a little brother. They grew up in New Providence, New Jersey, playing outdoors in sunshine or snow. Lenny was brave and didn’t mind getting messy.

He attended Our Lady of Peace primary school until 1965 and graduated from New Providence High School in 1969. “Lenny Lightfoot” played soccer and was active in the AV Club and Theatre Stage Crew. He was also a lifeguard at the community pool. He became an ambitious mechanic, lovingly maintaining his Mustang, followed by his Firebird in later years.

Len’s education continued at Union College (NJ), Parsons College (IA), and Tarkio College (MO). He completed his Bachelor of Science, received his Private Pilot Certificate (FAA), and became an avid photographer. He was a DJ at KMA Radio Station in Shenandoah, IA and played guitar with the “Hayshakers”. He met Barbara Ann Rowe, daughter of Everett and Violet Rowe (née Brown), at Tarkio College where she was studying music and teaching. On August 6th, 1977, they were married in The Church of the Nazarene in Red Oak, Iowa near Barb’s hometown of Essex. Their shared love of music led them to performing in the band, “Fantasy”, with her younger brother, Dwayne Rowe.

They lived in Red Oak where Len was a pressman and bindery worker at the Learning Resource Center until 1981 which was the year their son, David Dwayne Allocco, was born. Len worked as the lead pressman at Bingo King in Council Bluffs, IA until 1986. Their daughter, Juanita Marie Allocco, was born on Thanksgiving of that year. The family moved to their current residence in Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked at Rapid Printing and busied himself landscaping and personalizing the home.

In 1988, Leonard founded his own company, Best Grafixx, which he owned and operated for 20 years specializing in graphic machinery installation, modification, and repair. He loved his job, working with local printers and technicians, and his community. He especially enjoyed barbeques and hanging outside with neighbors, racing RC cars or blasting off his homemade potato gun.

He retired and closed his business in 2008 after being diagnosed with diabetes and kidney failure, but that didn’t stop him from renewing his Private Pilot Certificate that same year. With the extraordinary care of the DaVita dialysis medical staff, he made new friends and continued to live life to its fullest. He worked hard to qualify and was the recipient of a kidney transplant that gave him four wonderful years of cherished freedoms. He advocated for organ donation and was a consistent universal blood donor throughout his life. He became a grandfather in 2013 when his son, David, and Jennifer Seidler had their first child, Flynn. Len was a proud and caring grandpapa to his daughter, Juanita’s, and Shawn Cullinane’s children Lily Ann and Josie Catherine (born 2014 and 2017). Dave and Jen welcomed another son and a daughter, Quinn and Rory (born 2019 and 2021) giving Len a total of five beautiful grandkids, whom he adored.

During retirement, Len became quite the artist on the lathe making beautiful pens and a variety of other works. He also wrote two rhyming children’s books entitled “Lily & Josie Have a Plan” and “Lily & Josie Find a Friend”. He was a huge contributor to his home town’s Facebook group and spread positivity to his many friends. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in March of 2025 and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. While his outlook on life remained bright, his health continued to decline.

After 17 years of renal dialysis, diabetic management, and other ailments, Leonard Allocco passed away on Friday, August 15th, 2025. He was comfortable with his wife of 48 years, Barbara, beside him, and was surrounded by family and love in the hours leading up to his final rest. As he requested, no services will be held, but stories or memories are welcomed and can be shared here. The family has no need for flowers, but monetary contributions can be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association.

The Allocco family is grateful for the support they have received from family and friends across the country. It has been said, “Lenny was loved by many and was such a positive soul, always encouraging to others despite his physical trials. He has found eternal peace, but his spirit lives on. He was a special man, one of a kind.”