John P Capuano

John P. Capuano, 86, a lifelong Worcester resident passed away at home, Tuesday, Dec. 5^th, 2022, with his wife and daughter at his bedside.  

“John Cap” was born in Worcester, one of two sons of Dominic and Julia (Pugliese) Capuano.  He graduated from Worcester Boys Trade School, earned his Bachelor’s in Industrial Arts from Fitchburg State College and his Master’s in Education from Worcester State College.  John taught industrial arts in the town of Grafton and in Worcester for many years and touched the lives of many of his students.  

In the early 1990”s John and Deborah founded Amity Flight School at Worcester Airport.  John ran the flight school for over 30 years before retiring.   A licensed pilot, with over 30,000 flight hours, his passion was flying, and he lived out his dreams everyday as a Certified Flight Instructor and an IA Aviation Mechanic.   His prize possession was his Beechcraft Bonanza, N1550D. He and Deborah made many memorable flights throughout the years.  John’s love of flying and the peacefulness of the open sky with Deborah as his Co-Pilot were times that he cherished. He was extremely proud of his flight students and Flight Instructors who followed in his footsteps, many becoming pilots for major airlines.

John served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He was also a musician who  formed his own band, The Johnny Cap Trio, playing many weddings and functions for years. He was an artist and owned an art gallery in Wellfleet. He enjoyed boating and fishing at Cape Cod and Florida.  As his brother-in-law always said, “There was nothing that he couldn’t do”.

John is survived by his devoted wife and best friend the Honorable Judge Deborah A.S. (Simoncini) Capuano; a daughter Cynthia Bradley (Rick) of Palm Coast, Florida; a son, Colonel Dr. John Giordano DDS, U.S. Army (Kim) of Holden; grandson, Andrew J. Bradley; sister and brother-in-law, Doreen and Anthony Quatela; his “Little Girl, Miss Honey Belle”, who he adored; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Donald B. Capuano.

A man of Faith, he was a member of St John’s Church. He was also a member of the Eastside Post 201, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the NEA, the Aircraft Owner’s and Pilot’s Association and the Bonanza Society

Friends and relatives are invited to a period of calling hours, Monday, December 12^th from 4 pm to 7 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St.  His funeral will be held Tuesday, December 13^th from the funeral home with a procession to St John Church, 44 Temple St where his celebration of Christian life Mass will be held at 10:00 am.  Burial will be in St John Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers memorial remembrances in his name can be made to the VNA, 120 Thomas Street Worcester, the Notre Dame Hospice, 555 Plantation St Worcester, or the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston.  

The Capuano family would like to thank Dr David Gilchrist, the VNA Home Care Staff, and the Notre Dame Hospice staff, for all the care, comfort, and compassion they gave to John.