S 2006

2026 -- S 2006
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LC003668
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  STATE  OF       RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  SENATE RESOLUTION
 EXTENDING DEEPEST SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF THE VENERATED LEGAL
  LUMINARY, JUDGE FRANK CAPRIO
  Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Tikoian, Lawson, Britto, Raptakis, Quezada, Felag, de
  la Cruz, and Rogers
  Date Introduced: January 08, 2026
  Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
1WHEREAS, This Senate was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Judge Frank
2 Caprio, the beloved husband of Joyce Caprio for sixty-two years, the proud father of Frank T.,
3 David, Marissa, John, and Paul, and the adored grandfather of Ashley, Alicia, Sophia, Frank II,
4 John, Cristina, and Francesca, and great-grandchildren, Richard and Joseph; and
5WHEREAS, Frank Caprio was raised on Federal Hill in the City of Providence, the son
6 of Italian immigrants, Antonio and Filomena Caprio, and the brother of Joseph Caprio and his
7 wife, Irene, and the late Antonio Caprio, Jr. He was a graduate of Central High School, worked
8 three jobs to earn his Bachelor’s degree from Providence College, and while teaching and
9 coaching wrestling at Hope High School, attained his Juris Doctor by attending night classes at
10 Suffolk University School of Law; and
11WHEREAS, In his initial foray into politics at the age of twenty-five, Judge Caprio won
12 a seat on the Providence City Council, which began a lifelong passion that included local
13 involvement mentoring and helping candidates, and ultimately extended to state-wide and
14 national level support and guidance; and
15WHEREAS, Working with his sons and cousin, Judge Caprio established and grew a
16 successful law practice that has spanned six decades, located in the Caprio Building on Atwells
17 Avenue in Federal Hill; and
18WHEREAS, In 1978, Judge Caprio joined close friends Joe Formicola Jr., and the
19 Honorable Jim Kelso as a business partner in the renowned Coast Guard House restaurant in
1 Narragansett, and in 1985, was named to the Providence Municipal Court by Mayor Joseph
2 Paolino, Jr; and
3WHEREAS, Gifted with exceptional abilities, Judge Caprio was a man of acute
4 perspicacity, who dispensed justice with wit, humor and reasoned opinions, and did his utmost to
5 uphold the rule of law and the cause of justice while sagaciously maintaining judicial
6 temperament with compassion and empathy, which not only earned him the respect and
7 admiration of his peers, but the trust and devotion of all who stood before his bench; and
8WHEREAS, From 1992 through 2016, Judge Caprio gained national acclaim when his
9 courtroom became a television must-see program airing on cable TV and ABC6. Originally the
10 brainchild of the Judge’s wife, Joyce, “Caught in Providence” received four Emmy nominations,
11 was eventually nationally syndicated on more than 200 stations, amassed over 26 million social
12 media followers and over 10 billion video views, and earned Judge Caprio the reputation as “the
13 nicest judge in the world”; and
14WHEREAS, Throughout his lifetime, Judge Caprio was immersed in myriad altruistic
15 endeavors including funding scholarships at Central High School, Providence College and
16 Suffolk Law School. He served as Chair of the Rhode Island Board of Governors, gave the
17 commencement address at Providence College to a standing ovation, and was awarded honorary
18 doctorates from Suffolk University and Providence College; and
19WHEREAS, In addition, Judge Caprio published a best-selling memoir, was highly
20 sought after for speaking engagements, was awarded the Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice
21 in India, and was the former President and long-time board member of the Aurora Civic
22 Association to name but a few of his many accomplishments and honors; and
23WHEREAS, Judge Frank Caprio possessed a fair and magnanimous spirit and was a
24 legend in his own lifetime. He had the love and devotion of his family and friends and the
25 admiration of his peers, and he will be profoundly missed by those who had the good fortune to
26 be a part of his vital and fulfilling life; now, therefore be it
27RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby extends deepest
28 sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Judge Frank Caprio;
29 and
30RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
31 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Joyce Caprio and Family.
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