Rocky Abalsamo: Man Who Sat By Wife’s Grave For 20 Years Dies, Will Be Buried By Her Side

Rocky Abalsamo spent every day of the past 20 years sitting by his wife’s grave, and now the two will finally get to spend eternity together.

For two decades the 97-year-old Abalsamo spent nearly every waking moment by the grave of his wife, Julia “Julita” Echeverria Abalsamo. On Wednesday Rocky died, and is set to take a permanent place beside his wife.

Rocky and Julia were teenagers when they met in a cafe in their native Buenos Aires. Rocky recalled that he was sitting with his back to Julia as she spoke with friends “about the soul, about life, goodness.”

Rocky said he had never even seen her face, but decided, “This is for me. I must know her.”

“People no listen, people only see,” Rocky said. “They need to listen, to see what is inside, to be happy.”

Rocky Abalsamo warmed the hearts of readers with the loving description of his wife.

The Boston Globe noted:

“He said he fell in love with her ‘not because she was’ – he made the symbol for an hourglass figure with his hands – ‘but she was,’ he added, making the gesture again. ‘She was pure love. Her beauty was a gift apart, a reward.'”

Rocky said he and his wife had a deep love, and every year celebrated the anniversary of their first kiss. They eventually had a family, and in 1971 moved to Boston to follow their children.

The couple was married for 55 years when Julia died of complications of heart surgery. Rocky was distraught and began spending every day at St. Joseph Cemetery.

“She is part of me, so here I am whole,” he said. “Being here makes me feel better. Not good, but better. I do it for Julita, and for myself.”

Rocky Abalsamo would trek to the cemetery each day, wearing the faded green parka that Julia liked best and carrying a photograph of his wife in her younger days. On the back were her words, “Today the sky smiles to me. I see you. You look at me. Today I believe in God. With all my love, Julita.”

The story of Rocky Abalsamo first came to national attention in 2000, when the Boston Globe profiled the widower. The story turned him into a minor celebrity, with the story reprinted in publications around the globe.

Rocky’s story attracted many strangers to meet him, some of whom became close friends with the widower. Many brought him blankets and extra clothes to keep warm through the frigid winter months.

Rocky took a break from the daily visits in 2005, after a death in the family prompted him to start spending more time with his living relatives, but he still visited his wife’s grave often.

The family of Rocky Abalsamo now plans to bury the man on the left side of Julia’s plot, the place he had sat for 20 years.