Judge Frank Caprio, who is thought for his heartwarming viral courtroom moments, has died. He was 88.
In accordance with an announcement shared on his official Fb web page, the previous Windfall, Rhode Island, choose “handed away peacefully on the age of 88 after a protracted and brave battle with pancreatic most cancers.”
“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering perception within the goodness of individuals, Decide Caprio touched the lives of hundreds of thousands by way of his work within the courtroom and past,” the assertion continued. “His heat, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.”
Decide Frank Caprio smiles as he concludes his morning session inside Municipal Courtroom on the Windfall Police Station in Windfall, Ri on Oct. 30, 2017.
Boston Globe through Getty Pictures
The assertion went on and stated that he “can be remembered not solely as a revered choose, however as a loyal husband, father, grandfather, nice grandfather and good friend. His legacy lives on within the numerous acts of kindness he impressed. In his honor, might we attempt to convey a bit of extra compassion into the world — simply as he did each day.”
Many might know Caprio from his TV present, “Caught in Windfall,” wherein clips from the collection have gone viral on social media.
Caprio turned often called the “nicest choose on the planet” for his compassion within the courtroom and the leniency he supplied to those that wanted it most.
The present aired in 2000 and earned 4 Daytime Emmy nominations.
“Compassion, understanding and sympathy actually emanates from my upbringing, my early childhood,” Caprio told “GMA3” in February whereas he was selling his guide, “Compassion within the Courtroom: Life-Altering Tales From America’s Nicest Decide.” “My mother and father had been from Italy they usually took care of all of the neighbors and helped them, and it was these influences that basically influenced my life.”
“Generally you possibly can change any individual’s life simply by inserting your hand in your shoulder and telling them you consider in them,” Caprio advised NBC Boston in 2024.
Born on Nov. 23, 1936, Caprio grew up in Windfall, Rhode Island, the place he would go on to function a municipal courtroom choose almost 50 years later, based on his web site.
Previous to regulation, he taught American authorities at Hope Excessive Faculty in Windfall. Whereas instructing, he additionally attended night time college at Suffolk College Faculty of Legislation in Boston.
He served as a Windfall Municipal Courtroom Decide from 1985 to 2023.
In December 2023, shortly after his 87th birthday, Caprio shared an emotional video on social media revealing his most cancers prognosis.

Decide Frank Caprio visits SiriusXM Studios on September 20, 2018 in New York Metropolis.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Pictures
“I might ask every of you in your individual technique to please pray for me,” he started within the video on the time. “Fairly not too long ago, I used to be not feeling effectively and obtained a medical examination and the report was not a great one.”
“I’ve been recognized with most cancers of the pancreas, which is an insidious type of most cancers,” he continued.
Caprio stated that he was being handled for the illness.
“I do know it is a lengthy highway and I am absolutely ready to struggle as laborious as I can,” he added and thanked his followers for his or her variety messages. “I’m in want for the facility of prayer which I consider along with medical therapy that I am receiving, is essentially the most highly effective weapon to assist me survive this. Simply realizing that you simply had been preserving me in your ideas means the world to me.”
In Could 2024, Caprio accomplished his final radiation therapy, sharing on social media that he rang the bell at Baptist Well being Most cancers Care to mark the event.
In certainly one of his final movies on his official Instagram web page, which was shared on Tuesday, Caprio stated he had a “setback” and was again within the hospital. He requested his followers to “keep in mind me in your prayers as soon as extra.”
“I ask you once more if it is not an excessive amount of to recollect me in your prayers,” he stated.
Caprio is survived by his spouse, Joyce Caprio, of just about 60 years, their 5 kids, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, based on his web site.
