A Pelham Bay cheese man who ran a store that was a fixture in the community for two generations was honored with
an honorary street naming.
The new street sign was unveiled in honor of Charles Carroccetto, who ran his family’s ricotta cheese shop and deli in Pelham Bay for more than 20 years, on Saturday, May 8. The street corner on of Roberts and Crosby avenues, will now bear the name Charles Carroccetto Corner.
Councilman Jimmy Vacca and Community Board 10 were the driving forces behind the giving the distinction to Carroccetto, in honor of his explarary service to the community and dedication to the residents of Pelham Bay. This included hiring local youth to work in his store which was called Charlie’s, and later, C & L Foods.
“He was someone that a lot of people went to for advice just because he was so well known in the community,” Vacca said. “We renamed the street corner in honor of him because of the fact that he was so involved. He touched a lot of people’s lives.”
Vacca said that when Carroccetto passed away at the end of 2008 at the age of 91, he thought it a fitting honor for the Throggs Neck resident. Also in attendance at the street corner naming were family, friends, and Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto.
Carroccetto was a member of Community Board 10, and also who gave freely of his time to St. Benedict’s Church, as well as the Boys Club at Jefferson Park in Manhattan. He was an active member of the Chippewa Democratic Club, the Pelham Bay Kiwanis, and won a purple heart for his service in World War II.
“My father was just that kind of person,” son Richard Carroccetto said. “He enjoyed getting involved in the community and liked helping people.”
He was also remembered as a family man, who was the proud parent of six children: Richard, Robert, Carmine, Maria, Joanne, and Antonia. He also had seven grandchildren, and three-great grandchildren, along with three step-grandchildren. He was married to his wife, Lena, for 60 years.
He ran the store, which was founded by his parents on Buhre Avenue in 1928 and later moved to Crosby Avenue, from 1952 to 1972. He provided jobs to his extended family who needed to employment obtain citizenship.
“They would need a place to work to qualify for citizenship,” his son said. “He would give them jobs until they could obtain it.”
The renaming of the street was approved by Community Board 10 in June 2009 and then by the City Council in the December 2009, honoring Carrocetto’s decades of involvement and activism.
“It is my honor to participate in the dedication ofthe intersection of Crosby and Roberts avenues as Charles Carrocetto Corner,” said Senator Klein. “Carrocetto’s love and dedication to the Bronx, especially the Pelham Bay community, will always be remembered and appreciated by me and many in this community for years to come.”
