Toronto, Ontario — Rocco ‘Rocky’ DeLorenzo, longtime member of Canada’s collision repair community and founder of Toronto’s Ryding Auto Body, has died. He was 86.
Rocky’s auto body career began in 1960 as a body repair man at Allied Auto Paint, three years after immigrating to Canada from Italy. He obtained his body repair license in 1962 and, in 1963, became the shop estimator at Allied.
With dreams of being self-employed, Rocky founded Ryding Auto Body in 1965. The business began in a small garage attached to his home but, in 1973, was able to expand the business and move to a larger location in Etobicoke, Ont. In 1976, he received his mechanical repair license.
Rocky believed in quality service, experience and integrity are the key stone to a successful business and happy customers.
In 1981 and 1999 Ryding Auto Body continued to expand and moved twice to larger locations in Toronto. Today, the facility resides at 1107 Castlefield Ave. in Toronto.
Rocky will be missed by his children Agnes, Josie, and Mark current owner of Ryding Auto Body; his family and countless members of Canada’s collision repair community.
