10/15/2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the former Executive Director of HHWP CAC, Dennis LaRocco.
Dennis began his career at HHWP Community Action Commission as the Director of the Head Start Program. He quickly was promoted to Deputy Director where he served in this capacity for several years. In December of 1981, Dennis was promoted to Executive Director, a position he held for almost 32 years. Dennis retired from the CAC in July of 2013. Right from the start, Dennis had to preside over a period of uncertainty. In 1981, the nationwide network of Community Action Agencies was undergoing a major transformation. While Congress had successfully thwarted the complete defunding of Community Action, doing so required a transition from direct federal funding to a state block-grant model. Dennis successfully led HHWP CAC through this transition. Under his leadership, the organization continued to thrive.
Through his team and through strong community partnerships, many innovative programs were created and administered. Dennis was instrumental in bringing public transportation to Hancock County through Hancock Area Transportation Services (HATS). HATS continues to thrive today, and public transportation continues to increase its capacity in Hancock, Wyandot, and Hardin counties.
Dennis was a pioneer in working with housing development firms in the creation of housing tax credit projects. Through these partnerships and through Dennis’s leadership, HHWP CAC was able to leverage millions of dollars of tax credit funding to increase the number of affordable housing units in the community, keeping hundreds, if not thousands of families stably housed.
Although not exciting to talk about, arguably one of Dennis’s most important contributions was his fiscally conservative approach to organizational management. There are few non-profit organizations that enjoy the fiscal strength that HHWP CAC continues to enjoy to this day. This would not have been possible without his shrewd financial management and focus on financial strength of the organization. In times of fiscal uncertainty, this has proven to be tremendously beneficial.
Dennis’s hard work and leadership continues to impact HHWP CAC in positive ways, more than a decade after his retirement as Executive Director.
