RB civic leader Donald LaRocque dies
Donald P. LaRocque, a charter member of the Rancho Bernardo Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club, passed away suddenly at his home in Del Mar on March 30. He was 62.
Mr. LaRocque began practicing law in Rancho Bernardo following his graduation from the University of Michigan Law School in 1971. Rancho Bernardo was a relatively new community at that time and Mr. LaRocque quickly became one of its most active and dedicated volunteers, serving on the chamber’s board of directors, on the Pop Warner board of directors, and as chairman of Symphony on the Green, an outdoor summer concert series held annually at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. The concerts, which at one point drew nearly 10,000 people, attracted such top name talent as conductor Arthur Fielder of the Boston Pops and comedian Bob Hope.
“Don was definitely a strong leader and we did very well under his leadership,” said Woody Beard, who succeeded LaRocque as Symphony on the Green chairman.
When the concert event officially folded in 1993, Mr. LaRocque assisted the organization in using its remaining assets to establish a music scholarship. The Symphony’s funds, which Beard said amounted to roughly $100,000, were placed with the non-profit Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation who continues to administer the scholarship fund.
“Don was a great asset because he was a lawyer,” Beard said.
Longtime Rancho Bernardo resident Mike Stelman, who was a close friend of Mr. LaRocque, recalled his strong, solid commitment to everything he did. “Don was a wonderful person. A quiet person who was just a giant in the community,” Stelman said.
Mr. LaRocque was inducted into the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame in 1986 in recognition of his outstanding community volunteerism and leadership.
Mr. LaRocque grew up in Oak Park, Ill. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford, OH. in 1964 with a degree in mathematics and served as a Navy lieutenant during the Vietnam War. He was an avid golfer.
A beloved husband, brother, father and grandfather, Mr. LaRocque is survived by his wife, Vicki Gloor, brothers Capt. David LaRocque and Dr. Michael LaRocque, sister Julie Kaiser, children Beth Graalman, Thomas LaRocque, David Gloor and Andrew Gloor, and grandchildren Nolan Graalman, Bennett Gloor and Marin Gloor.
A celebration of Mr. LaRocque’s life was held Monday at the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. His family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made on his behalf to the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation c/o Jim Wise, President, 11902 Avenida Consentido, San Diego, CA 92128