Caravaggio built a life in Peterborough
Tailor shared his Italian heritage, including soccer, with adopted city
Rocky Caravaggio came to Canada at 17 with nothing but a suitcase.
He turned the tailoring skills he began learning in Italy at age four into an enduring business while dedicating his life to his family, heritage and adopted community.
Mr. Caravaggio, founder of Rocky’s Dry Cleaners and Custom Tailoring and founding president of the Peterborough and District Italian Club, passed away Saturday morning at 85. He was admitted to Peterborough Regional Health Centre after a stroke six weeks ago.
Raised in Fossacessia, Italy through the Second World War, Mr. Caravaggio left a poor village to come to Peterborough in 1952. He saved enough money working as a tailor to purchase Johnson’s Cleaners, later renamed Rocky’s, in 1961. The business operated on Chamberlain Street until a fire in 2016. His son Fabrizio Caravaggio, who took over the business, is converting the property to commercial office space.
“Dad did what he had to do,” said Fabrizio. “He wasn’t afraid to work. He didn’t speak English, they had to learn it. He took courses at night and did whatever he needed to improve himself.”
Mr. Caravaggio was instrumental in the creation of Peterborough’s Canada Day multicultural celebrations at Del
Crary Park in the 1980s.
He started by spearheading A Taste Of Italy celebrations with food, entertainment and a church service at the park each July 1.
City officials approached him to help steer an effort to add a multicultural element to what is now a Canada Day tradition.
He was a long-serving executive member of the National Congress of Italian Canadians (Ontario Region).
Fabrizio said his father wanted to highlight immigrants’ contributions to the betterment of Canadian society.
“Dad came to Canada hoping to make a better life,” he said. “He had a commitment to make something of himself. As the eldest son he wanted to take care of his family. That meant something to him.”
After establishing himself in Canada he was joined by other family members. His brother Nick (Nicola) started a shoe repair business that grew into an orthotics clinic in Peterborough. His youngest brother Al (Aurelio) established a barber ship in Lakefield.
Mr. Caravaggio learned his craft from a master tailor in Italy and took pride in his work, said Fabrizio.
“Dad was a master at it,” said Fabrizio. “He knew how to solve problems. If he got stuck on a garment he’d come up with a plan and just knew how to solve these problems when working on people’s clothes. He’d come up with solutions I would never have thought of.”
He took a dry-cleaning course in Toronto to expand his business. He was active in the local dry cleaners association and the Chamber of Commerce.
He was also active on numerous city committees including 12 years on the Peterborough Arena, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
A north-end resident for 50 years, he also ran for a city council seat in Northcrest Ward.
Mr. Caravaggio was also active in the local soccer community. He served as president of the Vimar Soccer Club and helped run minor and men’s leagues in the formative years of organized soccer in Peterborough.
He was also president of the Eastern Ontario Premier Soccer League.
Mr. Caravaggio is predeceased by his wife, Grace. He is also survived by sons Angelo, a retired Air Force lieutenant-colonel, and Marco, a chiropractor, who both live in the GTA. He is also survived by grandchildren Rachel, Jordan, Janelle and Joseph. He is also survived by his sister Anna DiGiovanni, brothers Nick and Al and is predeceased by his sister Maria Ferreri.
A private family service will be held this week. A celebration of life will be held at a date to be determined.