OXFORD: Michael C. Caprio, age 79, entered eternal rest on October 30, 2026, at Griffin Hospital. He was the beloved husband of fifty-two years to Lois (Ott) Caprio.
Born in Derby on February 12, 1947, he was the son of the late Ralph J. and Carmela (Patti) Caprio. Michael was raised in Seymour and graduated from Seymour High School class of 1965. He then went on to attend the University of New Haven attaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Michael settled in Oxford where he resided for the past fifty years. In his earlier career years, Michael worked in IT and managed multiple data processing operation positions. He participated in the start-up of Bloomingdale’s by Mail, he was the lead IT liaison in the restructuring of the operations department at Davis & Geck Medical Device division in Danbury, strategic account manager for Sun Microsystems Inc., and he was the owner and president of Zip/Bar Mailing Services in Oxford for twenty-two years.
He served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Greater Bridgeport Postal Customer council. A proud veteran, he honorably served his country in the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971 during Vietnam, earning the rank of Sargeant. In Vietnam, he survived 11 rocket attacks and a gas attack while stationed in Danang. During the TET Offensive attack, he was injured and suffered permanent partial hearing loss. Later, he was stationed at Pease AFB in Portsmouth, NH and Anderson AFB in Guam, supporting B-52 bombing raids over Vietnam. He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award and Air Force Good Conduct Medal.
Michael enjoyed sports and played slow pitch softball in Valley Leagues and Industrial Leagues throughout the state. He also scheduled, directed and played in the Oxford over-thirty league for twenty- five years. He was an umpire for slow pitch Men’s, Women’s, and Co-Ed softball leagues for many years and a member of the Valley Umpires Association. Michael also played men’s competitive volleyball for over fifty years. He was a certified referee in volleyball for recreational and power leagues in Oxford and Trumbull as well as directed, scheduled and ran all of their co-ed volleyball leagues. He was a member of the Oxford Lions Club and a volunteer for the Waterbury and New Haven Easter Seals. He served on the Board of Finance and Board of Assessment Appeals both in Oxford and was a member of the Oxford Economic Development Commission.
Michael loved going out with his wife Lois and meeting up with friends to enjoy good meals and even better conversation. He liked working on home and landscape projects in his yard and enjoyed carpentry and masonry. He and Lois loved traveling to their place in Aruba each year and enjoyed listening to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Michael was also a devoted Catholic and a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Oxford.
In addition to his wife Lois, he leaves to cherish his memory, a sister, Lorraine Bohan of Ft. Myers, FL, sisters-in-law, Norma Pytlak (Brian) of Derby and Norine DiLisio (Joseph) of Derby, brothers-in-law, Raymond Ott (Beverly) of Oxford and Norman Ott of Naugatuck, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and great friends, especially lifelong friend, Louis Cisto of TN.
Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family and pay their respects on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the chapel of SPINELLI-RICCIUTI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver Street in Ansonia. On Saturday, all are invited to attend his funeral by meeting directly at 11:00 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 733 Oxford Road in Oxford, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment with military honors will immediately follow in Mt. St. Peter Cemetery in Derby. Contributions in Michael’s memory may be made directly to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, or Veterans Support Foundation, an organization committed to serving the unaddressed needs of veterans and their families at www.vsf-usa.org. To sign Michael’s guestbook or share a memory, please visit www.spinelliricciutifh.com.