Rocco Michael Yannarell

Rocco Michael Yannarell, 96, of Hilton Head Island passed away August 2, 2025.  He was born October 14, 1928 in Hazelton, PA to Rocco Yannarell Sr. and Mary A. (LaVigna). Rocco attended Hazelton High School and received his diploma in 1946. He joined the Army from 1946-1948 and served in the Korean War.

On discharge from the Army he attended Pierce Business College, then trained and worked as an accountant, but being a born salesman, he soon found an opportunity to form his own company allied to the hotel industry introducing mini bars in hotel rooms all over the world. By the age of 40 he built a successful business which he then sold and retired.

Playing golf 7 days a week did not satisfy his entrepreneurial spirit and by 1975 he was looking for a new challenge. He joined the Coffee-Mat Corporation of America and was posted to London in 1976 to start his second career as the International Vice President responsible for the development of European sales. In 1983 the Coffee-Mat Corporation purchased Rowe and Rocco’s international responsibilities grew to encompass the development of a world-wide distributor network for the company’s products of vending machines, bank note changers and juke boxes.

Rocco’s business acumen, his warm and generous personality and sense of humor, plus on occasions his ability on the golf course. He retired as Executive Vice President of International Sales at the age of 72.

He was an active fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is leaving behind his wife Kerstin after 42 years of marriage, his two sons Rocco John (Debbie), and Richard from his first marriage to Marcella Yannarell, (deceased) and brothers Anthony, Louis and Robert (deceased).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on August 14th at 10 am at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.