New London — Rocco Basilica, a longtime city firefighter and union leader who lived and breathed the fire service in New London but whose career was cut short by injuries, died Friday at age 54.

Basilica, whose health had been on the decline even before his retirement from the city last year, had recently been hospitalized at the Backus Hospital in Norwich for a combination of problems, his family said.

Those existing problems, some of which can be traced back to a series of workplace injuries, may have been complicated by a COVID-19 diagnosis in May, one family member said.

Both Mayor Michael Passero, a retired city firefighter, and New London fire Chief Thomas Curcio said Basilica left his mark on the city and in the fire service. Both had served two decades with Basilica.

“He was a really good friend of mine. He was just a New London guy through and through. He devoted his life to the city. Firefighting was his life,” Passero said.

Passero was among a host of family and friends who had gone to visit Basilica during his latest hospital stay. Passero said the two talked about the future, though Basilica’s health condition was dire at that point.

“Hang in there. Come on Roc,” was one of Passero’s last statements to Basilica.

In addition to being witty, likable and having a strong instinct for firefighting, Basilica also had keen political instincts, being a longtime leader of the local firefighters union and acting as a behind-the-scenes adviser for many aspiring politicians, Passero said.

Chief Curcio said Basilica was always professional in his encounters with residents, a comedian at the firehouse when spirits needed lifting and had a knack for talking to people.

“He had a calm way about him. He knew how to calm other people during the worst of situations,” Curcio said.

Basilica was named Firefighter of the Year in 2000 for saving a drowning man at Ocean Beach Park and as a union official was instrumental in changing the department’s 401(k) plan to a defined pension for the benefit of members.

New London firefighter Steve Joly, president of the local firefighters union, said that move laid the groundwork for other unions to follow suit and helped the department not only with retention but allowed it to attract highly qualified candidates to open positions.

Joly called Basilica a “born leader,” who loved everything about New London — the fire service, the youth, the residents and the sports. He said Basilica, who was a towering figure, “had a heart that fit his size and personality.”

Basilica had sustained at least 31 line-of-duty injuries over the course of his career, city records show. 

In 2016 he suffered a serious Achilles tendon tear during response to a fire at Mitchell College. After surgery, he was in and out of the hospital for related problems that effectively ended his career.

It also led to repeated hospitalizations and two arrests in 2019, one for a small amount of heroin discovered on him during a hospital visit and a second time for driving under the influence after he was discovered passed out in his vehicle in Groton. Basilica later admitted to police he had taken a painkiller and drank a few beers.

Basilica told The Day in an interview last year that he had voluntarily sought out substance abuse treatment because of his use of pain medication and alcohol. He said the problems began after treatment for his injuries. Those treatments had included multiple hip replacements and surgeries on his elbows, knees and vertebrae.

Anthony Basilica remembers his brother as someone whose sights were set on becoming a fireman like his father.

“From the time he was young, that’s all he wanted. He wanted to be a first responder. He was very proud to serve his hometown,” he said. “I don’t think there was a day that went by that he didn’t enjoy his job.”

Rocco Basilica is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and two son, Jacob and Nicholas.

Anthony Basilica, who is 10 years older, said the two were always close and when he went away to college, Rocco would be on the sidelines at all of his football games.

“The guys on the team all loved him. He was 14 at the time. He was bigger than half of the guys on the team,” he said. “Over the course of time, as we got older, whatever he could do to help, he would. He was supportive of my children, me and my family. He couldn’t do enough for us.”

“It’s hard. He’s touched a lot of people. He’d done things quietly. The last couple of years took a toll on him and his health. He was a great brother and a great friend. I’m going to miss him terribly,” the elder Basilica said.

Funeral arrangements include a wake from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home on Montauk Avenue in New London and funeral service at St. Joseph’s Church at 11 a.m. Friday, with interment to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Engine 3, the firetruck Basilica last rode on, will be part of the funeral procession. A fire department honor guard will be present at his wake.

g.smith@theday.com