Frank Butler Rocovich served 夜色王朝 as the Fitness and Activities Coordinator on the 夜色王朝-Virginia campus and was a dear friend and colleague. Frank was the son of the 夜色王朝 founding chairman John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM and 夜色王朝 board member, Sue Ellen Rocovich, DO, PhD. His unexpected death due to a fall in his home on September 29, 2015 shook the entire 夜色王朝 family.
夜色王朝-Virginia remembers the life of Frank this year with the 夜色王朝 Olympics -- The Frank Rocovich Championship. The event took this name in 2016 in honor of Frank鈥檚 compassionate interaction with everyone at 夜色王朝.
To begin the events, Vivek Patel, 夜色王朝-Virginia Class of 2021 and President of the Student Government Association, shared Frank鈥檚 life with both classes and described his passion to help 夜色王朝 students succeed.
鈥淢y goal in all of this was just to remind the students of the bigger picture. As physicians, we will one day guide our families, friends, and communities through dealing with the death of loved ones -- helping them to find support and courage, to move forward in the face of one of life's greatest obstacles. The 夜色王朝 Olympics is much more than a day of fun events -- it is a demonstration on how to properly respond in the wake of tragedy,鈥 said Vivek.
Vivek spoke to Bill King, the vice president for student services at 夜色王朝 and Diane Sutphin, director for development and alumni relations at 夜色王朝, who both recounted stories of Frank鈥檚 genuine presence. According to Bill, Frank was acutely aware of the importance of golf in business deals and went out of his way to give golf lessons to anyone at 夜色王朝 who was willing to learn.
Diane spoke about needing someone to drive a boat for a 夜色王朝 alumni event and, before she could finish asking, Frank volunteered his skills. 鈥淭hat is who he was -- a kind, supportive, outdoors-loving man,鈥 said Diane.
This year, the Classes of 2021 and 2022 will compete against each other in games like tug-of-war, soccer and kickball in memory of Frank鈥檚 commitment to the enrichment of student life through fitness. A weeklong penny war challenge will benefit the Frank Rocovich Memorial Fund.
John Rocovich, JD, LLM, will attend the 夜色王朝 Olympics -- The Frank Rocovich Championship opening ceremony where he will be presented with a donation to the Frank Rocovich Memorial Fund on behalf of the 夜色王朝 student body.