Judge Frank Caprio Dies - Longtime Municipal Judge and “Caught in Providence” Star
GoLocalProv News Team
Judge Frank Caprio Dies - Longtime Municipal Judge and “Caught in Providence” Star
"My Dad was always giving and looking to help others. His compassion spread far and wide due to a worldwide following that flocked to him. Hopefully, through our good deeds, his legacy will live on," said Frank Caprio, Jr., the former RI General Treasurer, in a message to GoLocal.
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Caprio was born on November 24, 1936, in Providence, Rhode Island. He was the son of Antonio Caprio, an Italian immigrant and fruit peddler, and Filomena Caprio. He graduated from Providence College in 1958 and later earned a law degree from Suffolk University Law School while working as a high school teacher.
He began his legal career in private practice and was elected to the Providence City Council, where he served from 1962 to 1968.
In 1985, Caprio was appointed to the Providence Municipal Court. He served as Chief Judge until his retirement in 2023.
His courtroom was featured in Caught in Providence, a program that began on local access television before gaining national distribution. Video clips from the show were widely shared online, drawing attention to Caprio’s handling of traffic and municipal ordinance cases.
In addition to his judicial work, Caprio served as chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education. He also established scholarships to assist students attending Providence College, Suffolk University Law School, and other institutions.
He received honorary degrees from several universities and was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.
Caprio announced in late 2023 that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and began undergoing treatment.
He is married to Joyce Caprio. They have five children, including Frank T. Caprio, who served as Rhode Island’s General Treasurer.