Joseph P. Capuchino

Joseph P. Capuchino, who spent his life devoted to God, his family and the Red Sox, died Saturday morning. He was 85.
Joe, affectionately known as Sonny, Cappy or Pop, was born in 1933 in Boston, Mass., the only child of Joseph and Margaret (Caples) Capuchino.
He grew up in Allston and served as an altar boy at St. Anthony's on Holton Street. He attended Boston College High School in Dorchester, Mass., and graduated from Boston College with a degree in social work. He later served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Joe also spent his life in service of others as a social worker. He worked at the Veterans Affairs office in Stevens Point, Wis., for several years before moving his family to Manchester, where he worked at the VA office before helping to found the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester. He also created Caritas, a drug rehabilitation center in Manchester. He retired from the Mental Health Center as an assistant director in 2001.
Along the way, Joe met and married the love of his life, Anna (Nancy) O'Brien. They raised five children, and opened their home on Rochelle Ave. to many others, friends and family and sometimes strangers who needed a place to stay or to spend a holiday. Joe hosted many Sunday dinners, where he led the family in grace and summed up the week's homily.
Joe attended Mass daily at St. Anselm's abbey for many, many years. He was a member of the Derryfield Country Club for decades and worked as a starter and performed other tasks for 25 years. He golfed seven days a week, and treasured the friendships he made and the kindness of the members and staff. He spent his last morning just as he would have wanted: with 18 holes of golf, followed by church.
He loved attending his grandchildren's sports games; traveling with his family to places like Hilton Head Island and Yellowstone National Park; watching his beloved Red Sox and Patriots; and reading The New York Times.
Joe was truly the rock of his family. He will be remembered most for his antics — his practical jokes, his often loud and sometimes embarrassing ways, his stubborn streak and his insistence on always being right. Joe never lost an argument. He also claims he invented wearing baseball caps backwards, though that is unconfirmed.
He leaves his daughters: Kelley Roberge and her husband Ed, Linda Capuchino and her husband Kevin Demers, and Debbie DiStefano; his son Michael DiStefano; his grandchildren Greg Boss and his wife Nilsa, Gary Boss, Kate Davidson Choma and her husband Russ, Joe Davidson and his wife Kendal, Liam Roberge and his wife Emily, Briana Roberge and her boyfriend Matt Bezreh, Meaghan Clark and her boyfriend Matt Beaulieau; his great-grandchildren Brigitte and Brandon Boss, Kennedy and Grace Davidson, and Leo and Rosalie Choma; and many cousins and extended family, particularly the Arey and Caples families, who were like siblings to him. He is pre-deceased by his wife; his parents; his daughter Joni Capuchino; and his granddaughter Lauren McLaughlin.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 in St. Anselm College Abby Church. Burial was on Thursday, September 20, 2018 in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. Anselm College, 100 Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH 03102.
To send an online message of condolence, please go to www.lambertfuneralhome.com.