World War II veteran, adventurer, scholar and gentleman, Donald Keith Rocconi, age 84, died Sunday, September 30, 2012 at his home in Lompoc, California, after a two year battle with cancer.

Born in Iron River, Michigan in1927, he moved with his family to California in 1939 and graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1945. He immediately went into the Merchant Marines, and then the Marines, and served in the Pacific until the end of World War II. Donald loved exploring the world and went on numerous voyages as a seaman, shipping out of various ports, including Naples, Italy. He sailed around the world in 1961.

Donald married Louise (Doll) Rocconi in 1963, and they had two children. He worked for Computer Science Corporation from February, 1970 until he retired in September, 1989. A life-long student, Donald earned several degrees, attending Loyola University after the war, the University of Paris (Sorbonne), U.C.L.A. graduate school, the University of Oxford, and the University of La Verne. He later attended law school and worked as a law clerk for local lawyers for several years. Donald continued his studies and travels until the end of his life. He had a passion for film, art, and the humanities. He collected books and was an avid reader of poetry, philosophy, history, and classical literature, typically reading an original text and one or more commentaries on the work at the same time, while writing his own separate detailed notes. His monthly "to do" list included such items as "observe nature and beauty like [Henry David] Thoreau." Donald would travel to places that inspired poets and authors and walk in their footsteps to try to see and experience what they had. Donald was a true Renaissance man, with knowledge of every topic, impossible to beat at trivia games, but always humble and generous with his family and friends. He inspired those around him to pursue knowledge and adventure. Donald was an eternal optimist, a romantic, and a peaceful, loving man. He will always be in our hearts.

Donald's wishes were to be cremated and to have his ashes scattered at sea.

Surviving Donald are his wife Lois Rocconi, son Daniel Rocconi, daughter Margo Rocconi-Harriman, son-in-law Jordon Harriman, and his four grandsons Blake, Ryan, Dylan, and Trevor Harriman. Services will be held on October 20, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, 123 North "A" Street in Lompoc, California with a reception immediately following at the American Legion, Post 211, 630 North "H" Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara.