Roger F. Cocivera, whose career in the linen, uniform and facility services industry spanned 68-years passed away August 6 due to an illness, TRSA reported.
Cocivera’s career began at Penn Linen in 1951 and included co-leadership of Penn Linen as well as service as president of TRSA. Cocivera was 87 years old.
“We are saddened by the loss of our colleague and friend, Roger Cocivera,” said TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci, who succeeded Cocivera in March 2010. “Few gave more or did more for the good of the industry, or for the organizations for which they worked, than Roger. After leaving TRSA, he remained active with PMI (TRSA’s Production Management Institute) including addressing graduates in 2016. He stayed in contact with the organization through his friend of more 45 years, retired TRSA Director of Industry Affairs Bill Mann. Roger will be missed by many in our industry and beyond.”
Cocivera began working in the laundry business while still in high school, when he took a job with Penn Coat and Apron in Allentown, PA. During the next 50 years, he rose through the ranks in the company owned by Max Stettner; they became business partners and operated Penn Linen, Penn Healthcare and Tartan Textile Services. Cocivera earned recognition for his work with Penn as well as numerous activities he pursued on behalf of TRSA. Most prominent among these was the founding of PMI, which now bears his name, according to TRSA.
After retiring from Penn Linen, Cocivera joined TRSA in May 2002 as vice president of industry affairs. He advanced to the post of interim president on Feb. 1, 2005, and was named president two months later, beginning a five-year tenure at TRSA during which he oversaw growth and change that culminated in the “blending” of TRSA and the Uniform & Textile Services Association (UTSA) in October 2008, the association says.
Cocivera continued to work in the industry after stepping down from TRSA serving as senior partner in CoBe Consulting LLC, in White Hall, PA.
