Introduced By: Representatives Kelso, Costantino, Fox, Williams and Giannini
Date Introduced : May 20, 1998
Referred To: Read and Passed
WHEREAS, Frank Caprio, respected attorney, successful businessman, and Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court, was born in Providence on November 24, 1936, the son of immigrants. His father peddled produce and delivered milk on Federal Hill, while his mother cared for Frank and his two brothers, Antonio Jr. and Joseph, and took part in community and church activities; and
WHEREAS, At Central High School, where he was an All-State wrestler, Judge Caprio was encouraged to learn a trade. But his dream was to go to college. He worked his way through Providence College, receiving his bachelor of arts degree in 1958, and he earned an Education Certificate from Rhode Island College in 1959; and
WHEREAS, While teaching American Government full-time and coaching wrestling at Hope High School, Judge Caprio attended Suffolk University Law School at night. But the classes he taught on our American system of Democracy were more than theory for him. Inspired by John F. Kennedy, he ran for Providence City Council and was elected in 1962. He represented Federal Hill on the City council for eight years, serving as Deputy Majority Leader, chairman of the Committee on Urban Renewal, Redevelopment and Planning, and Chairman of the Special Investigative Committee on Corruption and Mismanagement in city Government. He was a delegate to the 1973 Rhode Island Constitutional Convention, and has been elected a delegate to the Democratic National Convention five times; and
WHEREAS, In 1965, Judge Caprio received his law degree and launched a legal practice remarkable for its diversity. He has served as special counsel to Cookson America, a Fortune 500 corporation, legal counsel to the Providence Redevelopment Agency, and assistant legal counsel to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. But his legal efforts are equally devoted to the many friends and neighbors who have sought his help and counsel for the past three decades. He is now the senior partner in Caprio & Caprio. He has served as a Providence Municipal Court Judge since 1985, becoming Chief Judge in 1990. Judge Caprio is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation, the American Bar Association, the Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Judges Association; and
WHEREAS, The same hard work, determination and energy that have led to Judge Caprio's success in law and government have led to success in the business world. He is a principal owner of the popular Coast Guard House Restaurant at Narragansett Pier and Casey's Restaurant in Wakefield, and a principal owner of Cherry Hill Housing in Johnston; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Judge Caprio has given generously of his time to causes that are important to him. He has served on the board of the Federal Hill House and as a volunteer at Nickerson House, and is a Fellow of the Rhode Island Food Bank and a member of the Bishop's Council of St. Joseph Hospital. He was co-chairman of the Rhode Island Statue of Liberty Foundation and chairman of the Aurora Olympic Committee for the United States Olympic Team. He established the Antonio "Tup" Caprio Scholarship Fund at Suffolk University in honor of his late father, and is 1997-1998 chairman for the Providence College National Alumni Fund. Currently, he serves as a member of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education; and
WHEREAS, Judge Caprio received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Suffolk University School of Law in 1991, and was the United Italian Americans Association's 1988 Man of the Year. He also has been honored by the Christian Brothers' Ocean Tides Program and by Boys Town of Italy; and
WHEREAS, Judge Caprio has been married to the former Joyce Tibaldi for thirty-four years. They are the parents of five children, Frank and David (both attorneys), Marissa, John, and Paul; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this House of Representative of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Judge Frank Caprio on being honored by the Verrazzano Society. He truly deserves it; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Judge Frank Caprio.
