By Ken Hirter
For this month’s “Walkabout” I sat and spoke to the wonderful and humorous Mr. Frank Rocchi, manager of Architect Hair Design/Barbershop * Collective Arts & Brewing for the past eighteen months.
Frank was born in the Hammer and is a proud Hamiltonian. He lived first on Arkell Street for the first five years of his life and then his family relocated to Ancaster in 1967. Descending from a proud Irish & Italian heritage he attended Cathedral High School. Frank worked for ten years at Dofasco and as a Broker with BMO Nesbitt Burns for thirty years.
Mr. Rocchi leads a subsidiary of the volunteer group “Beautiful Alleys” and focuses on making the CN Rail a welcome and attractive gateway to the North End. In partnership with CN Rail staff and volunteers, they picked up six tons of garbage near the Mary Street bridge in April. They were back at it on September the 22nd 2018 and both CN and Beautiful Alleys love this partnership and welcome new partners Liuna Station 837 and Marchese Pharmacy who disposed of the five Sharps containers that were collected.
Frank also spearheaded The Dieppe Veterans Memorial Park on the Beach Strip; a cause he holds dear to his heart due to the stories his dad shared throughout the years. Did you know: 199 were sadly killed in the biggest single military disaster in Hamilton’s history.
His Vision for Hamilton: the City needs the LRT and for the Cities “New Blood” they need to understand “Roots run Deep”
In closing I ask Frank of his Motto’s in Life: “If you can’t be young, be immature (Red Green) and “You got to be crazy, or the world will drive you insane.” “HAMILTON ROCKS”
“FIGHTER OF THE NAYSAYERS” here in Hammertown and of course “Proud supporter of the Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Canadian Veterans of Canada”
Thanks again Mr Rocchi for the time to sit and chat on Architect’s street patio.
Please note: Architect Hair Design (Make your haircut great again) is located on 324 James Street North @905-524-2724 or visit their second location Hendry’s Barbershop on 661 Barton Street East @289-389-9001. A special thanks and shout out to Mr. Peter Mokryke for making it ALL possible.
Until next month, take care of you and those around you. Cheers!