Henry “Hank” G. Ciocca ’71 J.D. was a deeply good man, sculpted by strong values, a profound moral compass, and enduring love for his family. Born the son of Mary and Henry G. Ciocca in Buffalo, New York, Hank always carried with him the powerful legacy of his father, Enrico Ciocca, an Italian immigrant who worked on the Erie Canal and later became a successful entrepreneur. Despite lacking formal education, Hank’s father understood the transformative power of learning as the path to prosperity and a good life.
As one with deep devotion to Our Lady, Mother Mary, Hank’s journey led him to the University of Notre Dame as an undergraduate in the fall of 1964. Life unexpectedly called him home to be with his parents during his father’s battle with cancer—a testament to his unwavering devotion to family. He completed his undergraduate education at Canisius College, where he excelled academically and was a member of the varsity baseball team. Yet the spirit of Notre Dame was undeniable, leading him back to pursue his law degree, which he completed in 1971.
Hank’s Notre Dame experience provided a strong academic foundation and forged an ethical compass that would guide his life and career. It was during one stop along Hank’s career path, while serving as assistant general counsel for Nestlé, that he met his beloved wife and lifelong partner, Rita Carbone, who worked as a marketing executive at the company. They built a vibrant family blessed with three children, Christina, Henry, and Mariana, in addition to their first daughter, Nicole, whom Hank had welcomed some years earlier during his previous marriage.
Hank’s successful career as a corporate general counsel at companies including Thomson Corporation (now Thomson Reuters) and chief executive officer of Markborough Properties Ltd necessitated a number of cross-country moves. Hank and Rita consciously embraced each new location as an opportunity to teach their children about adaptability and the richness of new experiences. Hank’s commitment to integrity extended beyond his legal practice. It permeated every aspect of his life, deeply influencing his children and shaping the enduring values they would embrace as their own.
Rita, an alumna of Newton College of the Sacred Heart and Boston College Carroll Graduate School of Management, found her own unique connection to Notre Dame during her marriage to Hank. As the birth of their daughter, Mariana, coincided with Hank’s 20-year Law School Reunion, Rita agreed to attend her first Notre Dame football game with him that fall. Rita was amazed by the University’s welcoming atmosphere and vibrant spirit.
Watching Notre Dame football as a family became a cherished tradition. One of their children’s most vivid and heartwarming memories of their father is Hank’s enthusiasm during these games—they recall him leaping from his chair, exclaiming, “Touchdown!”
On his 60th birthday, Hank received a gift that moved him deeply: a Notre Dame helmet signed by Brady Quinn, inscribed with Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This verse became a source of inspiration for Hank and a reminder of the faith that anchored him.
Despite a valiant fight, Hank passed away from chordoma, a rare cancer, in 2008. He was 61. Yet his spirit lived on, inspiring his son, Henry III, to follow in his footsteps to Notre Dame Law School, where he graduated in 2013. Henry always felt his father’s presence at Our Lady’s University, especially in the quiet reverence of the Grotto: a testament to the enduring impact of his father's connection to Notre Dame. This same, strong connection has also guided Rita’s path to the present, leading her to begin a new journey in love and partnership with James R. Pouliot, Class of 1975.
Hank is remembered not just for his professional accomplishments but for the depth of his devotion to his family, the unwavering strength of his character, and the steadfast integrity that guided his every action. The Henry G. Ciocca Law Fellowship, established to honor his father’s belief in education and now a tribute to Hank himself, beautifully encapsulates this legacy. As Rita eloquently states, it honors “The man who believed in education but had none and the man who was grateful” for the opportunities it afforded him—a father's dream realized in his son’s life.
