On August 1 we said goodbye to our beloved father, Francis “Frank” Walton Cappella, born 06/10/1932 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He passed away surrounded by the love of his family. He will be remembered for his devotion to family; his quiet strength; his lifelong loyalty to the Boston Red Sox; his artistic talents; and his love of babies and strawberry ice cream.

Frank was very close to his grandparents, Felice and Archangela Cappella, and lived for a time on their farm in Plymouth. He was the only grandchild allowed to help in the garden and pick the red grapes he loved, which were used to make the wine. Frank eventually joined his parents in DC and played offensive guard on the Eastern High School 1951 DC Championship football team; and graduated in 1952. While in high school Frank worked at the DC Police Boys Club, which was located next to the Marine Corps Barracks. In February 1952 he enlisted in the Marine Corps, proudly serving as a sergeant in the Korean War until February 1955. He received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. Frank was flown by helicopter from the front and treated at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH), just like in the TV show. He married his wife, Sharleen Kelley Cappella, who predeceased him (12/8/2021), on January 15, 1955 while home on leave. They shared nearly 67 years of marriage. At the age of 26, Frank built the family home in Brock Hall, Upper Marlboro, MD, where they lived for 39 years before retiring to Bethany Beach, DE. He worked for Bell Atlantic Telephone Co. as an engineer and retired after approximately 33 years. In Bethany, Frank and Sharleen remained very active with a large social circle.

Frank was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, proud veteran, generous community and church volunteer, and friend. He was a man of few words and stoic throughout his life, true to his Marine Corps training. He could build or fix anything and was always a helpful handyman and car repairman to his friends, neighbors, fellow church members and the IHM Sisters at St. Mary of the Assumption in Upper Marlboro. Frank and his friend, Steve, outfitted the kindergarten there with Montessori style built-in bookcases. He enjoyed coaching baseball and football with the Kettering Boys Club. Frank loved to garden and raised enough vegetables on the property in Brock Hall to share with all his neighbors. He was a talented painter and carver of waterfowl and wildfowl, gifting many of his ducks and birds to family and friends. He made sure every grandchild and great-grandchild received one.

Frank devoted every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day for 20+ years supervising the VFW “chicken shack” on Rt. 1 in Bethany at the National Guard Armory. At VFW Post 7234 (Quillen’s Point) he worked at the breakfasts, dinners and dances with Sharleen. He volunteered at the Salt Pond for the neighborhood watch and cut grass in the medians and around the clubhouse with his friend, Al. Frank built the kayak stands for the residents to store their personal watercraft in accordance with very specific environmental regulations. He assisted as sacristan and altar server for daily mass at St. Ann’s Catholic Church for many years.

He leaves many to cherish his memories including his daughters Shawn Cappella Herbert (Donald “Bink” Herbert, Jr.) and Angela Cappella Vomero (Ernest Vomero, MD), his son Dominic “Nick” Cappella (Judy Kwon), grandchildren Matthew Herbert (Gina), Ryan Herbert (Meredith), Ashley Vomero Pizzo (Gaspare), Vincent “James” Vomero (Rose), Nicholas Vomero (Alina), Olivia Vomero; as well as 12 great grandchildren who knew him as PopPop, Noah Herbert, Avery Herbert, Luciana Pizzo, Sydney Herbert, Marin Herbert, Serafina Pizzo, Remy Herbert, Pia Vomero, Matteo Vomero, Aria Vomero, Nico Vomero and Ernest Vomero.

Visitation will be at St. Ann Catholic Church in Bethany Beach, DE, on August 11 at 11 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12. Interment will be at Delaware Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, DE at 2 PM. The repast will be held at the Salt Pond Clubhouse, 402 Bethany Loop, Bethany Beach, following the interment.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in Frank’s honor: Sr. Ann Monica Bubser, Development Office, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Street, Scranton, PA 18509-1514; or Gilchrist Hospice We Honor Veterans Activities: https://gilchristcares.org/donate/