Longtime Woodbridge Football, Baseball Coach Frank "Cappy" Capraro Dies At 94

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A man who for decades was the head football and baseball coach at Woodbridge High School died last week.

Frank Capraro, known as "Cappy," passed away on September 12 at Community Medical Center in Toms River, according to his obituary. He was 94 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, Capraro was a lifelong resident of Woodbridge Township, where he lived in the Fords section. He himself went to Woodbridge High School, graduated in 1946, and then returned to teach and coach there after first working in Trenton public schools.

He worked as a teacher, coach and then administrator in the Woodbridge school district for more than 60 years before retiring at the age of 81.

"Frank was always willing to help people. He mentored other educators, counseled students and friends serving the community," read his obituary. "Frank clearly made a positive impact on the lives he touched and will be deeply missed."

As the Woodbridge head baseball coach from 1957-1967, his teams won 122 games. His 1957 baseball team won The Home News Tri-County Championship and were finalists in 1958, 1959 and 1967.

His Woodbridge football teams (1973-1987) won 60 percent of their games and one State Sectional Championship in 1980, were playoff finalists in 1976, one MCAC title in 1983 and one GMC Red Division title in 1986.

"Saddened by the passing of Frank Capraro," tweeted @BarronsSports, the official Twitter account of Woodbridge High School Athletics, on the day he died. "Coach Capraro played football & baseball for the Barrons. He then played at Rutgers before returning to WHS where he was a teacher, State Champion Football Coach & Athletic Director. He is a member of several Hall of Fames. RIP Coach."

Capraro was inducted into the New Jersey Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993 and was also inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1975 from Woodbridge High School.

In 2018, he and his brother Vincent were inducted into the Woodbridge Township Athletic Alumni Association Hall of Fame. He and his brother also worked as umpires for baseball and as local referees for basketball and wrestling.

Capraro was also a life member of the Woodbridge Emergency Squad and a communicant of St. James Roman Catholic Church in Woodbridge; he was also a member of Middlesex Council #857 Knights of Columbus.

He earned his bachelor’s and masters' degrees from Rutgers University.

"Cappy as he was known was an excellent athlete. He played football, baseball and basketball at Woodbridge," read his obituary. "His honors included being named to the All-State Football Squad in 1945. He was named all Middlesex County for all three sports in 1945-1946. Cappy also played college football at Rutgers. He started for the Scarlett Knights in both his junior and senior years of college."

Capraro was also a member of Ironworker’s Local #11, where he worked during the summer months. He was a U.S. veteran who served in Japan.

A viewing was Sept. 16 at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home with a funeral mass at St. James R.C. Church on Sept. 17. He is buried at St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Colonia.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Woodbridge Township Athletic Alumni Association 600 Main Street, Woodbridge NJ 07095 c/o Patrick Mueller

Saddened by the passing of Frank Capraro. Coach Capraro played Football & Baseball for the Barrons. He then played at Rutgers before returning to WHS where he was a teacher, State Champion Football Coach & Athletic Director. He is a member of several Hall of Fames. RIP Coach 🙏
— WHS Athletics (@BarronsSports) September 13, 2022