Judge Frank Caprio, who is thought for his heartwarming viral court docket moments, has died. He was 88.
In keeping with an announcement shared on his official Fb web page, the previous Windfall, Rhode Island, decide “handed away peacefully on the age of 88 after a protracted and brave battle with pancreatic most cancers.”
“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering perception within the goodness of individuals, Decide Caprio touched the lives of hundreds of thousands via his work within the courtroom and past,” the assertion continued. “His heat, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.”
Decide Frank Caprio smiles as he concludes his morning session inside Municipal Courtroom on the Windfall Police Station in Windfall, Ri on Oct. 30, 2017.
Boston Globe by way of Getty Photographs
The assertion went on and mentioned that he “will likely be remembered not solely as a revered decide, however as a loyal husband, father, grandfather, nice grandfather and buddy. His legacy lives on within the numerous acts of kindness he impressed. In his honor, might we attempt to deliver just a little extra compassion into the world — simply as he did day-after-day.”
Many might know Caprio from his TV present, “Caught in Windfall,” wherein clips from the sequence have gone viral on social media.
Caprio grew to become referred to as the “nicest decide on this planet” for his compassion within the courtroom and the leniency he offered to those that wanted it most.
The present aired in 2000 and earned 4 Daytime Emmy nominations.
“Compassion, understanding and sympathy actually emanates from my upbringing, my early childhood,” Caprio told “GMA3” in February whereas he was selling his ebook, “Compassion within the Courtroom: Life-Altering Tales From America’s Nicest Decide.” “My dad and mom had been from Italy and so they took care of all of the neighbors and helped them, and it was these influences that actually influenced my life.”
“Typically you’ll be able to change anyone’s life simply by inserting your hand in your shoulder and telling them you consider in them,” Caprio informed NBC Boston in 2024.
Born on Nov. 23, 1936, Caprio grew up in Windfall, Rhode Island, the place he would go on to function a municipal court docket decide almost 50 years later, based on his web site.
Previous to regulation, he taught American authorities at Hope Excessive College in Windfall. Whereas educating, he additionally attended night time college at Suffolk College College of Regulation in Boston.
He served as a Windfall Municipal Courtroom Decide from 1985 to 2023.
In December 2023, shortly after his 87th birthday, Caprio shared an emotional video on social media revealing his most cancers analysis.
Decide Frank Caprio visits SiriusXM Studios on September 20, 2018 in New York Metropolis.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Photographs
“I’d ask every of you in your personal approach to please pray for me,” he started within the video on the time. “Fairly not too long ago, I used to be not feeling properly and acquired a medical examination and the report was not a very good one.”
“I’ve been identified with most cancers of the pancreas, which is an insidious type of most cancers,” he continued.
Caprio mentioned that he was being handled for the illness.
“I do know this can be a lengthy street and I am totally ready to battle as onerous as I can,” he added and thanked his followers for his or her variety messages. “I’m in want for the ability of prayer which I consider along with medical therapy that I am receiving, is essentially the most highly effective weapon to assist me survive this. Simply understanding that you simply had been preserving me in your ideas means the world to me.”
In Might 2024, Caprio accomplished his final radiation therapy, sharing on social media that he rang the bell at Baptist Well being Most cancers Care to mark the event.
In one in every of his final movies on his official Instagram web page, which was shared on Tuesday, Caprio mentioned he had a “setback” and was again within the hospital. He requested his followers to “keep in mind me in your prayers as soon as extra.”
“I ask you once more if it isn’t an excessive amount of to recollect me in your prayers,” he mentioned.
Caprio is survived by his spouse, Joyce Caprio, of virtually 60 years, their 5 kids, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, based on his web site.
