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Luella Kroger
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Vera McPherson
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Mildred Blase
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Dennis Wall
B: 1955-05-06
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Christopher Masminster
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Keith Connolly
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Jerry Lee
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Margaret Reynolds
B: 1931-02-02
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3155 Harrison Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45211
Phone: (513) 661-3022
Fax: (513) 661-0733
Rocco Dal Vera
In Memory of
Rocco
Dal Vera
1956 - 2017
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home - Westwood
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
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Obituary for Rocco Dal Vera

Rocco  Dal Vera
Rocco Dal Vera died peacefully on Friday September 29, 2017, surrounded by close family and friends, after battling glioblastoma cancer. He was the loving husband to his wife of 27 years, Denise Mechelle Dal Vera, and devoted father to his daughter, Kendall Anne Dal Vera. He is preceded in death by his father, Roger Dal Vera, and survived by his mother, Polly Dal Vera, and sister, Anne Dal Vera. Born July 10, 1956 he was 61 years old.

Rocco was a world-renowned researcher, master teacher and pioneer of voice and speech training for theatrical and commercial film actors, voice-over specialists, public speakers, and corporate leaders.

A Professor of Acting, he was the Division Head of Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration (TAPAA) at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. He was also on the faculties of University of Cincinnati’s College of Law, the Xavier Leadership Center (Williams College of Business), and Proctor and Gamble’s clay street project.

Awarded the title of Distinguished Member by the Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA), the highest honor given by the Association, Rocco was the founding editor of the journal Voice and Speech Review for VASTA, and edited the first three books of that series. He lectured internationally on vocal violence and the effects of emotion on the voice and was a Level 5 Master Teacher of the Alba Method for Emotions having studied and taught the subject for over twenty years.

He was the author and editor of six books, several of which have been translated extensively and received international acclaim, influencing the curricular design in several disciplines. His book, Voice: Onstage and Off (co-authored with Robert Barton), was nominated as the Best New Theatre Publication by the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and is in use by over 600 College and University theatre programs. His latest book, Acting in Musical Theatre: a comprehensive course, (co-authored with Joe Deer) is in its second edition. For three years Deer and Dal Vera had a monthly column, ‘Acting in Musical Theatre’, in Dramatics Magazine and were frequent contributors to the journal Teaching Theatre.

Before joining the faculty at University of Cincinnati, Dal Vera was head of the BFA Professional Actor and Musical Theatre Training Programs at Wright State University, taught at the National Theatre Conservatory, Willamette University, United States International University, served on the Advisory Board for the Relativity School, and was chair of the Voice and Speech Department at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. For 16 seasons, he was the resident vocal coach for the Tony-Award winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and the Actors Theatre of Louisville. He was a resident artist at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, and worked as a voice and speech coach at numerous theatres around the US including, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Human Race Theatre Company, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Long Beach Civic Light Opera, and the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

Prior to entering academic life, Dal Vera had a rich professional career onstage and in Hollywood. His voice can be heard on numerous commercials and over 500 films and television shows including L. A. Law, Hill Street Blues, THIRTYsomething, Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Gods Must Be Crazy. He was the co-host and assistant producer of the public television series, Healthward Bound...a lifelong journey, which won the prize for Best Series at the American Medical Association's International Film Awards.

With his wife Denise and friend Annie Fitzpatrick, he founded the company IWA Strategies LLC, whose client list includes Cincinnati Bell, Proctor and Gamble, clay street project, and Xavier Leadership Center. Their company’s mission is to teach “how to influence by inspiring and recognizing the genius in others and creating practical applications…”. This mission demonstrates how Rocco Dal Vera married an active professional life with an inspirational philosophy that recognized others’ potential. Revered for a generosity of spirit and graceful eloquence, he will be remembered as not only the “smartest man in the room”, but also the kindest. His thoughtfulness, artistry, and caring contributed to the achievement of countless artists, teachers, and professionals worldwide. Dal Vera was considered a “teacher’s teacher”, an “actor’s coach”, and a tireless ally to the many students and colleagues he served alongside and led in a career that spanned four decades. Beyond his exceptional professional skill, Dal Vera will probably best be remembered for his generosity of spirit and profoundly supportive nature. No student, colleague or acquaintance was ever turned away from his office without receiving Rocco’s full attention and support.

Later in his life, Dal Vera became a crusader against Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and his daughter Kendall’s life long battle with the debilitating disease. In lieu of flowers, a fund has been established in Kendall’s name. Please go to www.posthope.org/rocco/journal/214305/how-to-give-back-to-rocco to make a donation in his honor.

Rocco Dal Vera was a member of Actors’ Equity Association, American Association of University Professors, SAG-AFTRA, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance-International, Voice and Speech Trainers Association, Association for Theatre in Higher Education, Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, and The Voice Foundation.


Memorial Service will be held Monday, October 30, 2017, 6:30pm at the Tangeman University Center Great Hall on the Campus of the University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave., 45220. More information about the memorial can be found at www.posthope.org/rocco.

For more information contact k. Jenny Jones at jonekj@ucmail.uc.edu
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