“Everyone else matters.” Matt Capucilli had a dream that his late brother David said this to him. The dream came just hours after Dave died. The life Matt’s brother led made a lasting impression.
“We live in a society that is constantly trying to trick us into self-centeredness, but Dave saw right through that,” said Matt as he delivered Words of Remembrance during his older brother’s funeral. “He knew what it meant to give and to put others first. He had the rare ability to consider someone else’s position before his own. He once gave up his birthday so he could raise money to build a well for people he never met who were living on another continent. He was a shining example of generosity.”
David Capucilli, 37, died suddenly and unexpectedly last November, about a month after he was diagnosed as having multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood that develops in the bone marrow. Dave was in good health, a triathlete and one of the youngest people his doctor treated for this disease. His doctor expected him to be in full remission by this past spring. He died just two and a half weeks into treatment.
“Dave was an admirable person,” his father Dennis Capucilli said in a recent interview with the Messenger. “He was impressive. He was a very humble person. The magnitude of his loss … We’re getting cards from all over the world … a sympathy card from Qatar. We don’t even know who these people are.”
More than 100 cars were queued at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery in Baldwinsville, the day of his funeral.
“He carried himself in such a way, people who met him just once, they remembered him,” Dennis Capucilli said. “He had this ability, which we’ve seen written several times, if he was with you, he had the gift of making you feel like you were the most important person in the world when he was with you. That’s not easy to do.”
“Dave was a thoughtful son. He was a helper from the time he was young. He was a natural,” said his mom, Jo Anne Capucilli. He never forgot birthdays or anniversaries, she said. He bought his mom flowers or gave her a gift on Mother’s Day, and always checked on her when his dad was out of town.
A life lived well
David Capucilli graduated from C.W. Baker High School in 1995 and from the University of Rochester in 1999. He became an attorney and had just started up his own law firm in New York City.
“He took a risk … he was happier,” JoAnne said. He decided to help start up companies, and he loved them. He was very successful at it. He would always put other people first.”
He met his wife, Kristin, in the Big Apple. They were married July 4, 2013 in Tuscany, Italy. About 45 friends and family members, including his 88-year-old grandmother, celebrated with the newlyweds. It was a big villa reception with one table set up outside for all the guests. “Storybook, as they say,” JoAnne Capucilli said.
After the wedding, they settled back in NYC.
“They had the perfect set up,” Dennis Capucilli said. “They had just moved to a little apartment, it was beautiful. They were both doing well professionally. David started his own law firm in 2011, he was about to go to the moon with that.”
David was a musician, writer, golfer, adventurer and played almost every sport there is. He had a passion for baseball, playing throughout his high school and college career.
“Dave had a lot of friends, he traveled and took opportunities to experience new things,” Matt Capucilli said. “He was funny, kind and balanced. I know he felt lucky to be alive and he applied himself to pack in as much into life as possible.”
When asked what kind of life lesson he has learned as David Capucilli’s younger brother, Matt simply replied, “Stop being angry. It’s a waste of time.”
David Capucilli Memorial Golf Tournament
On Sunday, Sept. 7, a memorial golf tournament will be held at Timber Banks, 8184 River Road, in Baldwinsville to honor David’s life and benefit the community where he grew up.
Forms for player registration and sponsorship opportunities can be found at davecapucilligolf.com. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Cocktails, dinner and music begin at 4 p.m. Families are encouraged to attend the dinner. There will also be a silent auction and raffles and giveaways, including chances to win a cruise as well as a trip to Tournament Players Club [TPC ] Sawgrass, a prestigious professional golf course located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Proceeds will go to the Dave Capucilli Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Fund, which supports qualified local high school students. The scholarship’s first recipient was John Mercurio at this year’s Moving Up Day held May 30.
Sponsorship opportunities
There are six sponsorship levels (tax deductable) from which interested parties can choose: $1,500 Event Sponsor, $500 Community Sponsor, $300 Putting Contest Sponsor, $300 Longest Drive Sponsor, $300 Closest to Pin Sponsor and $200 Hole Sponsor.
Checks can be made payable to Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Foundation, and mailed, with a completed form, to Dennis Capucilli, 101 Second St., Liverpool, NY 13088. Questions? Call Dennis at 727-7081 or email [email protected].
Gift donations
Event coordinators are still accepting gift donations to support the tournament, including door prizes, giveaways, raffle items, gift certificates, merchandise, marketing materials or volunteer time. Contact Jo Anne Capucilli at 399-6757 for more details. For more information on the David Capucilli Memorial Golf Tournament, go to davecapucilligolf.com.
Scholarship donations
Those interested in donating to the David Capucilli Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Fund can send a check to Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Fund, Inc. PO Box 88, Baldwinsville, NY 13027 c/o Dave Capucilli Memorial Scholarship.
