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Aldermen designate south end roundabout ‘Officer Edward ‘Rocky’ Graziano Memorial

By Dean Shalhoup - Senior Staff Writer | Aug 13, 2022

Consider all the back-and-forth discussion that takes place among elected officials on almost every piece of legislation put before them, then add in the sometimes lengthy public comment periods that follow, and it’s understandable how some of the fairly rare non-controversial measures can be proposed, reviewed, sent to committee and passed into law almost without notice.

Take resolution R-22-048, for instance. While the measure didn’t command as much of the spotlight as, say, the police and fire budgets, expanded outdoor dining and its concrete barriers component, the coming Nashua Center for the Arts or the Police Commission saga, it has plenty of significance to certain folks, among them the law enforcement community throughout the state – but particularly in Nashua.

It was 58 years ago this weekend that the tragic incident that inspired the proposal, and eventual passage – by a unanimous vote of the Board of Aldermen – of R-22-048 occurred.

On an otherwise routine Friday evening, the 14th of August 1964, Nashua police Officer Edward “Rocky” Graziano – one of a small handful of motorcycle officers on the force at the time – was in the process of conducting a motor vehicle stop near the intersection of Main and South Main streets.

But when he pulled up alongside the car and tried to direct it to the side of the road, the vehicles collided, knocking Graziano off the bike and onto the roadway. Fellow officers sped the department’s ambulance to the scene, tried to administer first aid, and rushed Graziano to the hospital, but he was pronounced deceased about a half-hour later.

Now that one of Nashua’s roundabouts – the legislation calls it a “traffic circle,” but it, and the one on Broad Street at Nashua High School North, were first referred to as “roundabouts” when they were installed – handles traffic at Main and South Main, it was deemed an ideal site for, as the proposed resolution reads, “the naming of the traffic circle located at the intersection of Main Street and South Main Street in honor of Officer Edward C. Graziano.”

The granite monument that will soon grace the roundabout, or traffic circle, will designate it the “Officer Edward ‘Rocky’ Graziano Memorial Circle,” the cost of which will be borne by the Nashua Police Relief Association.

Two years ago, in observance of the 56th anniversary of Graziano’s death, police officers got together and composed a tribute to Graziano the man, the husband, the father, the police officer and the friend.

The tribute, submitted to The Telegraph by Nashua police Capt. Tom Bolton, follows.

“Edward C. ‘Rocky’ Graziano was born on May 19, 1938 in Somerville, Massachusetts.

“A son of Anthony and Irene Graziano, he attended school in Arlington, Massachusetts and graduated from Arlington High School in 1956. He continued his education at St. Anselm College, graduating with high honors in criminology.

“Prior to joining the Nashua Police Department, he was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard and the Middlesex County Police Department. He also served with the Durham Police Department, where he was acting chief for nine months.

“Edward and his wife, Sylvia (Davis) Graziano, had three children: Mark, Brian and Kerri.

“He was appointed as a special officer in Nashua on June 7, 1961 and became a patrolman on June 12, 1963.

“He took up a residence with his family at 17 Ω Brook St. in Nashua. Graziano “became a motorcycle officer and investigated numerous motor vehicle collisions along his route, which included the F.E. Everett Turnpike bypass.

“On Aug. 14, 1964, during the early evening hours, while conducting motorcycle patrol on the old Route 3, south of Rivier College (now University) and Hayward’s Ice Cream, Officer Graziano was involved in a motor vehicle collision. He was transported to (the former) Nashua Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to injuries sustained during the collision.

“Officer Graziano was 26 years old at the time. His oldest child, Mark, was just 5 years old.

“Officer Graziano was remembered by peers as being a quiet, yet funny guy with a dry wit, which was known to make fellow officers laugh.

“Former NPD Officer Bob Barry, who served from 1962-1986, recalled Graziano as a diligent and competent officer with a propensity to complete the tasks at hand.

“According to Officer Barry, who worked alongside him, ‘Graziano was the type of man and officer to come into work, get the job done, and go home to do the work of a family man.’

“Officer Barry remembered the late night swims that Officer Graziano would take in Salmon Brook by Fields Grove after working second shift. Barry recalled that on one of those late night swims, third shift officers responded to the park as it was past curfew and complaints were made about him.

“When asked about how Officer Graziano acquired the nickname ‘Rocky,’ Barry recalled that he shared the same last name with the popular professional boxer Rocky Graziano. Barry explained that it must have been one of those ‘roll call’ nicknames that just stuck.

“Brian Graziano, now of Milford, was 4 years old at the time of his fatherís death. When asked about how he remembers his father, he stated he recalled his father as being a kind and even tempered man.

“Brian stated that his grandfather (Anthony) raised Edward with the mindset that you raise a child with love, never a raised hand.

“NPD recognizes Aug. 14 as Officer Edward ‘Rocky’ Graziano Memorial Day.”

The day of the 2020 observance “began with a workout dedicated to Officer Graziano” and “concluded with a visit by the NPD Honor Guard to the location of Officer Grazianoís collision.

“Rest in peace, Officer Graziano.”

Dean Shalhoup’s column appears weekly in The Sunday Telegraph. He may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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