Colonel Rocco Francis (Rocky) Ventrella, Jr.
August 27, 1929—November 20, 2021
West Point, NY
Colonel Rocco Francis (Rocky) Ventrella, Jr., US Army Retired, passed on November 20, 2021, in Cape Carteret, North Carolina.
Colonel Ventrella was born August 27, 1929, in Niles, Michigan, the son of Rocco Francis, Sr. and Grace Trankina Ventrella. He graduated from the US Military Academy, West Point, in 1953 and was commissioned in the Infantry. Colonel Ventrella was a Ranger and Master Parachutist, and served in Austria, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. During his military career he commanded units in the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, and his assignments included being: The Associate Director of Admissions & Registrar at West Point, Chief of the Middle East Region Office of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Staff Officer to the Commander of the Seventh Fleet, Inspector General of the Military District of Washington, D.C., and an Officer at the Department of State.
Colonel Ventrella’s military awards included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Air Medal, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
He retired from the military in 1985. Subsequent to his military career, Colonel Ventrella served as a Resource Manager with The Fairfax County Virginia Park Authority. Colonel Ventrella and his wife Joan relocated from Virginia to Cape Carteret, North Carolina in 1994, where they made their permanent residence and he served as a Cape Carteret Town Official.
Colonel Ventrella is survived by his wife of 68 years, Joan Fanning Ventrella, and daughters, Roxanne Marie Adams and husband Rick Adams, Joanne Grace Latham and husband David Latham, grandchildren John Adams (Annie) and Leigh Adams Cairo (Jason), Sam Latham (Brittany) and Jack Latham, and great grandchildren Rocco Robert Adams, Louis David Adams, John Phillip Adams and Peyton Caroline Latham.
A memorial service will be held at West Point, NY, with inurnment in the West Point cemetery.
Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net
Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.
Mildred Martha Ulrich
March 17, 1935—November 3, 2021
Formerly Fort Montgomery, NY
Mildred Martha Ulrich (“Millie”), of Indian Harbor Beach, FL, and formerly of Fort Montgomery NY, died peacefully at home on November 3, 2021.
She was born March 17, 1935 in Watford City, North Dakota to the late Martha and Leo Bergeron. She was predeceased by her husband Jack, beloved son Jackie, sister Linda Hartel and brother John Bergeron.
Millie lived in Fort Montgomery, NY for most of her adult life, raising three children and running a successful business for 25 years with her husband Jack. She was also employed by the West Point Credit Union, the Thayer Hotel; she served as Town of Highlands Councilperson and before retiring was the Town Clerk for the Town of Highlands.
She was an active volunteer in the town of Highlands with Girl Scouts of America, Cub Scouts, the Bear Mountain Hockey Association, Rotary Club, Garden Club, served as President of the Parent Teacher Association, was a Charter member of The Town of Highlands Independence Day Committee, having served 30 years, co-chairing for 8 and was Grand Marshall in 2002. She was the recipient of the Town of Highlands Unity Award and the Mayor’s Woman of Distinction Award in 1998.
Millie retired and moved to Indian Harbor Beach, FL in 2008 to be near her daughters. She remained an engaged community volunteer, serving as president of The Condos of IHB, Relay For Life – The Beaches; she was a member of The Brevard Chapter NOW and The South Brevard Democratic Women’s Club.
Millie lived a long, full and well-loved life. She is survived by daughters Vicki Impoco (husband Lance) and Karen Velez (husband Ruben) Satellite Beach, FL, Grandchildren Nicholas Impoco, Angela Impoco, Marissa Impoco, Julie Impoco, Carly Impoco, Rameau Velez, Great Granddaughter Gianna Cutolo, Nephew Steven Hartel, her “FM Boys”, adopted daughter Cathy Beach, many dear friends and her beloved dog Honey.
Per her wishes, Millie’s daughters will bring her ashes home to New York this spring and she will rest eternally alongside her husband and son. A Florida native tree will be planted and grow in her memory at Gleason Park IHB. The family asks that all who loved Millie perform a random act of kindness in her memory.