Devoted friends are going to be holding a fundraiser for a beloved family man who unexpectedly passed away.
Steven Caputo, who died suddenly at the age of 49 on Friday, May 12 from a heart attack, will be remembered at a fundraiser for his family.
The fundraiser will take place at Villa Barone Manor on Wednesday, May 31 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Tickets are $100 per person and are available at seven local businesses.
Caputo, an electrician with Local 3 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, just finished dancing with one of his daughters, Amanda Paige, at her Sweet 16 party when he walked over to a bar for a drink and collapsed, his wife, Maryann Caputo said.
She said that fellow Local 3 members are helping with the family’s mortgage payments, and she added “they really are a brotherhood.”
The fundraiser on Wednesday, May 31, will be used to cover housing expenses and school tuition for his family, including his wife and children.
They reside in Country Club and attend St. Benedict’s Church, the latter of which Maryann said has been a source of support during this trying time for the family.
“This fundraiser is really helping,” she said, adding “Steven’s main concern was keeping a roof over our head and keeping our children in Catholic school.”
Tickets for the fundraiser are available at Electric Paradise at 3221 Westchester Avenue; Patricia’s Restaurant at 1082 Morris Park Avenue; Da Franco & Tony at 2815 Middletown Road; Master Graphics at 3159 Bruckner Boulevard; Skibbo’s Discount Beer & Soda at 3156 East Tremont Avenue; Barino’s Market at 3244 Ampere Avenue and Luigi Salon at 3231 Ampere Avenue.
In the days since Steven’s passing, friends told his wife that he was a man who ‘never said no’ to a person reasonably in need.
“He was just a selfless person and helping people made him happy,” said his wife. “Everyone at the wake said all he spoke about was his family and how proud he was of us.”
They were high school sweethearts, meeting when he was 17 and she was 15 in December 1985 in their Pelham Bay community. They were married for 22 years.
“We grew up together basically,” said Maryann. “I believe in love at first sight; to meet your husband at 15 is rare, but it was 22 wonderful years with this man.”
The couple had four children:, Heather Marie, 21; Vincent Anthony, 19; Amanda Paige, 16; and Rocco Lorenzo, 7.
His wife recalled that Caputo loved boating, fishing and the water, and so do his children.
She believes he inspired his son Vincent Anthony to attend S.U.N.Y. Maritime.
Friend and fellow electrician, Tommy Messina, said he remembers Steven as a man who could make you laugh with his quick wit.
“If you needed help or a favor, the word ‘no’ was not in his vocabulary,” said Messina, adding “He loved to help people, whether you knew him for a day or for 30 years.”
