Judge Frank Caprio Dies At 88 After Battle With Pancreatic Cancer

Judge Frank Caprio has taken his final breathe, as confirmed by his son, Frank T. Caprio.

The beloved viral judge passed away today after a long battle with cancer and a fine career that left loads of supporters and admirers in his trail.

Judge Frank Caprio reportedly served as a judge for the Providence Municipal Court for four decades, bagging a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2021 for his famous TV series.

The official account of Caprio bore the sorrowful news of his death after a lengthy period of putting up a courageous fight against pancreatic cancer.

The post on his official Instagram account featured images of him with his loved ones, family, and friends, including a picture of him and his family on the Emmys red carpet. Caprio was a true family man, as seen in one of the slides where his wife and children surrounded him.

An old picture of a young Caprio posing with his mom and siblings also featured in the slide. According to the accompanying caption, Caprio was beloved for his "humility and unwavering belief in the goodness of people."

The caption continued that Judge Caprio positively influenced the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond. They emphasized that his warmth, humor, and kindness left a lasting impact on everyone who encountered him.

The caption noted that the TV star will be "remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend with a legacy of 'countless acts of kindness he inspired." The caption ended with inspiring words that read:

"In his honor, may we each strive to bring a little more compassion into the world - just as he did every day."

The post has gathered over 200k likes and nearly 60k comments from everyone who had experienced Caprio's wit both on and off screen.

"Best Judge of all time! Your legacy lives on forever. Good night, my Hero. Heaven gained another Angel," this fan commented. Another Instagram user declared that they put the lawyer in the prayers last night, expressing their condolences to his friends and loved ones.

"That 'Please Remember Me' will [definitely] be honored. Thank u for making the world a better place and being so compassionate and awesome," a third fan expressed.

So many commenters noted that angels like Caprio should be granted immortality due to his kindness and willingness to ensure justice is served with the right amount of compassion.

"Go, Mr. Frank and claim the treasure i know you earned up there," an admirer penned, evoking several emotional replies from fans.

The Rhode Island icon opened up about his ailment after he celebrated his birthday and decided to go in for a medical checkup to address a health concern. 

As reported by The Blast, he shared that the visit eventually revealed that he has pancreatic cancer, and treatment commenced almost immediately.

He revealed that he was receiving treatments from medics in Boston and Rhode Island at the time, amid immense gratitude to everyone who had offered to help one way or the other.

Caprio urged the fans to keep him in their prayers alongside the medical treatments he was receiving then, affirming that it would help him get over the illness as quickly as possible.

Caprio and his wife, Joyce, shared an incredible bond as seen from several pictures of them together splattered on his face alongside their kids. In May, he celebrated his partner on social media on Mother's Day, and shone the light on her amazing qualities.

"Happy Mother's Day to my wife Joyce- the incredible woman who gave me the greatest gift of all: our five amazing children!" Caprio wrote. He stressed that Joyce's "strength,love, and endless devotion" served as a backdrop for the family's progress.

Caprio and his sweetheart tied the knot in 1965 and have stayed together for over five decades. Among Caprio and Joyce's five children, two have served in the parliament of Rhode Island as state senators and state representatives.

Caprio began his journey towards law by attending night school at the Suffolk University School of Law in Boston while he taught American Government at Hope High School.

At the Suffolk University School of Law, the late judge established the Antonio "Tup" Caprio Scholarship Fund, named after his father. The initiative was set up to compensate Rhode Island students who are focused on enhancing access to legal services for the underserved population.

The initiative extended to his high school and Providence College, where he gained his first Bachelor's degree. It was important to ensure this for the town he grew up in alongside his two brothers. 

Caprio worked several jobs growing up, including shining shoes, newspaper delivery, and working on milk trucks. He announced his retirement from law two years ago, and Providence renamed its municipal courtroom after the judge in October 2023.

The judge is survived by his wife, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He announced his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2023 and completed his last radiation treatment last May.

RIP, Judge Frank Caprio.