BALLSTON SPA — John A. Caputo, age 90, passed away at Saratoga Hospital on Wednesday, September 30, 2015. He attended Ballston Spa Schools.
He served in the U.S. Army, Combat Infantry, European Theater, 36th Division during World War II. At age 18, he was training for the landing in Salerno and participated in the main invasion at Salerno on 9 September 1943. In 1944 he was in the Battle of Anzio, an important battle of the Italian Campaign. John was awarded two Purple Hearts for being wounded in action against an enemy of the United States.
John played three years of minor league professional baseball in the Eastern Shore League. He was a member of the N.Y. Giants affiliated championship league team, the 1947 Seaford Eagles.
From 1961 thru 1976, he was a gym teacher and basketball coach for St. Mary’s School in Ballston Spa. John was a well-known harness track Judge at Saratoga Raceway who also traveled the NY circuit, Batavia, Vernon Downs, Monticello, Yonkers and Goshen.
He was predeceased by his parents, John A. and Clementina, siblings Frank, Nicholas (Nick), Mary, Dominick (Ike), and Elisa DeFilippo. He is survived by his brother Lucian (Oogie) Caputo and sister-in-law Gladys, his ten nieces, nephews and his best friend Dave Joseph.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mevec Funeral Home, 224 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa. Services will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 8 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 167 Milton Avenue, also in Ballston Spa. A committal service with military honors will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial contributions in John’s name be made to St. Mary’s Church or to St. Mary’s School, 167 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
