Atty. Pacifico M. DeCapua

Pacifico “Pat” M. DeCapua, Esq. 85, of Milford, passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at the Blaire House of Milford after a period of declining health.  He was married to Joyce M. (Creasia) DeCapua.  They had just celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary on October 11th.

Pat was born on Easter Sunday in Milford, MA to Leonardo and Felicia Maria (Coscia) DeCapua.  He was the second youngest of nine children born to immigrant parents.  From an early age, he was an Altar Boy at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Milford.  He was everyone’s local deliverer of the Milford Daily News and stood outside of the Church on Sunday mornings selling those papers to countless Milfordians who recall those early days.

He was salutatorian and President of the St. Mary’s Class of 1952.  He was a three-sport varsity athlete at St. Mary’s in football, basketball and baseball.  He thereafter graduated, cum laude, in 1956 from the School of Arts and Sciences at Boston College.  From that moment, he was forever an Eagle.  He and his wife and family and friends would follow their BC Eagles to countless bowls across the country over the next 50+ years.  He was a season ticket holder for all of those years and proudly wore his “Golden Eagle” jacket which commemorated his 50th graduation reunion from Boston College.

Upon graduation from Boston College, he attended the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC.  While at Georgetown, he was a Prefect in the dorms for the undergraduate school at the University.  At Georgetown, he would make lifelong friendships – some of which would come full circle nearly three decades later when returning to Georgetown Law as a Parent.

After receiving his JD and LLB from Georgetown Law in 1959, he passed the Massachusetts Bar Exam and opened his own law practice.  Shortly after becoming an attorney, his Air Force Reserve unit was activated during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and he spent 12 months at the Berlin Wall.  He always remarked that he was the only one who knew how to use the typewriter and was given the responsibility of transcribing the events that they monitored.  He also spent time deployed to Biloxi, Mississippi and worked as an assistant at the Judge Advocate General’s office (JAG).  He earned the rank of First Lieutenant.

He opened and ran his law practice for nearly 50 years.  He had a tremendous sense of community and was proud to be called a Milfordian.  He served the community as the Town Counsel for Milford and also for the Town of Uxbridge.  He served on the Milford School Committee for 11 years and was a moving force for the Milford High School Building Committee.  Over his nearly 50 years of practicing law, he zealously represented his clients on every type of case imaginable, tirelessly helping many people along the way.  There are many local attorneys from whom he learned so much; there are many local attorneys to whom he taught so much.

He was a member of the Milford Bar Association, the Worcester Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and he was an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.  He was an active member of the Milford Legion Board of Directors, a Town Meeting member, a member of the Milford Lions Club, the Italian American Veterans, the Hoboken Citizens Club, the Foggiano Club, the Milford Quincentennial Celebration, the Plains Association and the Sons of Italy.

He was well known for his intellect, his wit and sense of humor, smoking his cigar, playing tennis, and finishing every crossword puzzle that he started.  There was not a field or gym that did not know his face.  He loved taking rides with his friends to follow Milford athletes.  He would typically be found, smoking his cigar on a summer night at Fino Field.  But nothing gave him more pleasure than seeing his grandchildren on those fields.  He was on those fields for their three State Championships and it was a fitting way to culminate his pride for Milford athletes.

In addition to his wife, Joyce, he is survived by his son, Atty. Pacifico M. DeCapua, Jr. and his wife, Susan J. (Piccinotti) DeCapua and his two grandchildren, Scott P. DeCapua and Kaitlyn E. DeCapua.  He is also survived by his sister, Yolanda “Yola” (DeCapua) Collins and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his siblings Mary (DeCapua) Amantea, Antoinette “Netta” (DeCapua) Grillo, Lucy (DeCapua) Alphonse, Mafalda “Muffy” (DeCapua) Chiccarelli, Jeanette “Jenny” (DeCapua) Verrier, Dominic “Dicky” DeCapua, and Ann Marie (DeCapua) Kane.

His funeral will be held Friday (December 4th) from the Edwards Memorial Funeral Home, 44 Congress Street, Milford MA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (UPPER CHURCH), 7 East Main Street, Milford MA. Burial, with Military Honors, will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Milford MA. Visiting hours will be held Friday morning (December 4th) from 8:30am to 10:30am, prior to his Funeral Mass. Social distancing protocols & use of face masks will be required for all facets of the funeral services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. 

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