Rocco Dicillo was born on April 13, 1962, in Triggiano, in the province of Bari. His dream was to become a police officer. He passed the police entrance exam and was assigned to Bolzano, where he stood out for his dedication, courage, and kind spirit. Guided by the values of honesty, legality, and the defense of the State, Rocco did not hesitate to accept when, in 1989, he was offered a position as a bodyguard for a magistrate fully committed to the fight against the Mafia: Giovanni Falcone.
His deep respect for Falcone kept him courageously committed to the job, even though he knew he was risking his life every single day. He remained loyal to the very end, dying alongside him, Judge Francesca Morvillo, and the two other bodyguards, Antonio Montinaro and Vito Schifani, on May 23, 1992.