Dominic Caputo

Dominic Caputo, beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and golf buddy, passed away Aug. 6 at his home in Pensacola. He was 77. Born the oldest of five children April 15, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, Dominic was the firstborn grandchild of Italian immigrants and spent his boyhood helping his father peddle fruits and vegetables. He was a natural-born athlete and loved playing stickball in the street and later baseball and fast-pitch softball, where he once pitched a perfect game. His eyes were so keen he could spot a curveball by the rotation of the seams and judge where a fly ball would land from the crack of the bat. Growing up in New York in the 1940s and ‘50s, Dominic loved big band music, Broadway shows, tiny jazz clubs and playing the horses. An avid baseball fan, Dominic loved the Brooklyn Dodgers and like many of his generation, was heartbroken when they left. He transferred his devotion to the New York Mets and remained a fan for life. Though he never graduated from high school, he worked his way to manager in a Manhattan bank, where he met his future wife and mother of his three children. However, Dominic was a born entrepreneur and spent most of his life running a series of small businesses both in New York and Portland, Ore. As a child, he peddled scraped ice from a bicycle. As a young man, he left his bank job to sell hot dogs and later produce and fish from a minibus. He went on to open and operate a produce store and fish market, a trucking company and several restaurants. He ended his career back in the city he loved as a New York City cabbie, where he stockpiled an amazing array of stories and anecdotes that he would often recount in bars and on the golf course. The best of the stories included those of the famous and notorious that rode in his cab. He shuttled the likes of Muhammad Ali, Shirley Temple Black, Billy Joel and many more. His love, unique perspective and knowledge of the city, coupled with his gregarious personality, made him more than a cab driver – he often became a tour guide, introducing sophisticated international tourists and wide-eyed first-timers alike to his authentic New York. Dominic retired to Pensacola in 2000 drawn by warm weather, affordable golf and the opportunity to live near his son. Even after his son moved his family to Texas, Dominic remained in Pensacola where he had built a cadre of friends and become a fixture at Osceola Municipal Golf Course. His days in Brooklyn, where life happens on the stoop and the street, made it impossible for him to be a stranger to his neighbors. Hurricane Ivan did its best to drive Dominic away when the storm destroyed his Scenic Highway condominium complex. But he led the charge to rebuild and became president of his condo board, helping the scattered residents reconnect. Dominic was a fierce progressive and liberal who never shied away from sharing his views or debating politics. He was very concerned about leaving the world a better place full of hope for future generations. He was a staunch supporter of social justice, civil liberties, access to education and freedom of expression. He believed in equality and acceptance of all people, regardless of race, religion, culture, gender or sexual orientation. While he was vocal in his beliefs, his friends came from all walks of life, faiths and political persuasions. Kindness and compassion were the common threads that linked him to his diverse and colorful group of friends. Known as “Ol’ Pa” to his grandchildren and many others, Dominic was a source of light and laughter wherever he went. He was inevitably the life of the party and no one who met him could ever forget him. Dominic is survived by his three children and six grandchildren: Dominique Barrett, husband Edward and children Jackson, Anthony and Kayla of Columbia, S.C.; Anton Caputo, wife Jenny and children Dante and Lexi of Austin, Tx.; and Andres Caputo, wife Nicole, daughter Gabriella and expected baby of Portland, Ore. He is also survived by four siblings: Steven Caputo of East Hampton, N.Y.; Rose Cennamo of Stony Brook, N.Y.; Carmen Caputo of Staten Island, N.Y.; and Maryann Caputo of New York, N.Y.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be held Friday from 2-3 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. A memorial service and interment will be held in New York at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dominic’s name to the American Civil Liberties Union. FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH is in charge of arrangements. You may express your condolences online at www.fcfhs.com.

Tributes

Dominic Caputo

April 15, 1936 - August 6, 2013