Obituary of Anthony C. Caprino

Mayor Anthony C. "Tony" Caprino, 81, of 25 Cherry Lane Lakewood, NY passed away at 10:00 a.m. Friday (March 4, 2011) in W.C.A. Hospital. A lifelong area resident he was born May 29, 1929 in Jamestown, NY a son of the late Carl A. and Sarah Paterniti Caprino. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, Tony returned to Jamestown and went into business with Carl Brigiotta in C&B Auto Sales in Jamestown for several years before moving the business to Lakewood. After working as an auxiliary Police Officer, Tony became Chief of Police for the village of Lakewood in 1959, a position he held until 1965 when he became an investigator in the Chautauqua County Public Defender's Office. After working for the Chautauqua County Court, Caprino became the Senior Investigator for the District Attorney's Office in 1974 where he worked until retiring in 1996. In his work with the District Attorney's office he was involved with the investigation, trial preparation and prosecution of all major felonies in Chautauqua County. Mr. Caprino expanded his public service after being elected as a trustee for the Village of Lakewood in 1979. He was elected Mayor of the Village of Lakewood in 1981, serving its residents until his death. He was to be re-elected without opposition at this year's March election. The face of the village was dramatically changed with the development of the Chautauqua Mall, the commercial district on Fairmount Avenue and the redevelopment of Chautauqua Avenue and Hartley Park in Lakewood. He also served as the Chautauqua County Republican Party Chairman and was actively involved and many, many election campaigns. While serving on the Board of Trustees, including as President, for the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, Tony oversaw the design and construction of the new building and was very active in the day to day operation of the club. Tony was very involved in community and civic activities, his many memberships include the Lakewood Kiwanis Club, the Moose Lodge, the Masonic Lodge, the Elks Lodge as well as many law enforcement organizations. As a young man he was very involved in racing stock cars. Tony enjoyed spending time on Chautauqua Lake with his family and friends on his many boats including "The Office" and "The Office II". In earlier years he and his wife "Josie" owned and operated the Caprino's Pizza Shop. Tony enjoyed the company of his family and many friends. He especially loved the many trips to the Casino's. He was an ordinary man who accomplished so many extraordinary things. He was a great friend, a great dad and a wonderful husband who will be deeply missed, but fondly remembered by his friends and family. Surviving are his wife of 51 years the former Josephine "Josie" S. Gotto whom he married June 25, 1959, his children Sara Jo Caprino Fagnilli (David) of Lakewood, OH, Carl Anthony Caprino of Lakewood, NY, Rosemarie Caprino Ford (fianc- Kevin Swain) of Conway, SC, five grandchildren Catherine, Joey and Vincent Fagnilli all of Lakewood, OH, Amanda and Megan Ford of Conway, SC, his sister in law Margaret Gotto of Warren, PA and his brother in law Joey Gotto of Calif. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Basil Thomas "Cappy" Caprino, a sister Josephine Caprino Lisciandro, nephew Joey Lisciandro, sister in laws Jane Caputy, Kathryn Bonace and his brother in laws Jim and Frank Gotto. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church., Lakewood. Msgr. Joseph M. Dowdell, pastor will be celebrant. Burial will be in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Friends will be received from 1-4 & 6-8 p.m. Monday in the Lind Funeral Home where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 12:45 p.m. Monday. Memorials may be made to the Lakewood Memorial Library, Chautauqua County Special Olympics or to the W.C.A. Hospital Foundation.