NORWICH – Edmond Salvatore Caputo, 57, life-long resident of Norwich and well-known painting contractor, passed away Monday night, May 16, 2011, at his home at Chenango Lake.
Known affectionately as Eddie and “Johnny Bullhead,” Eddie was the son of Joseph and Elena Amelia Merlino Caputo. He was born in Norwich in April of 1954, and attended school in Norwich where he excelled in wrestling, ran cross country, and played baseball prior to his graduation in 1972. While attending Ulster County Community College, his wrestling prowess took him all the way to the Jr. College Nationals in Worthington, Minn. Eddie finished his education at SUNY Brockport, where he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He worked for a time as a probation officer for Chenango County, was a rural carrier for the post office, and was a junior varsity wrestling coach for Norwich High School under Don Kovalchik. During those years, Eddie and a few college friends began painting houses in the area. In April of 1984, Eddie was joined by his brother, Rick, and Caputo Brothers Painting became a reality. Operated by the brothers for 30 years, Caputo Brothers Painting was awarded the Gem award for small businesses from the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce.
Eddie was deeply involved in his community, his church, and several causes that were dear to his heart. A life-long member of St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church, Eddie was the first to volunteer. In his youth, he was an altar boy, and helped the church run the bingo games. He had served in just about all of their projects and programs, including the Feast Day, Father’s Day Brunch, St. Bartholomew’s Procession, and spaghetti suppers. Eddie, along with a few close friends and family members, took it upon themselves to restore an old statue of St. Bartholomew that Eddie found in the local church. His devotion to the church was always blatant, to the point that he continued to work on the interior of St. Bartholomew’s until the day he was physically unable to climb a ladder. His deep passion for restoring local churches is also shown by his work at St. Paul’s, Broad Street United Methodist, and St. Malachy’s churches, in addition to St. Bart’s, and in the Kendrew church in the north country.
Eddie was a strong spirited individual who challenged himself in everything he did. He loved camping, especially in the Adirondacks where he had just purchased a camp, and in Tortola in the Virgin Islands. Eddie was an organizer of the Perch Derby at Chenango Lake, where he had made his home for numerous years, and of the “squirrel roast” which began as letters to his friends and turned into a popular event which was written up in The New York Times. Dedicated to the fight to end leukemia, he had participated in the leukemia runs, including the one in London, England. After Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, Eddie was one of the volunteers who went down to paint the newly constructed homes. He served as a member of the Unadilla Valley school board, was a supporter and participant in the YMCA’s Turkey Trot, and had gone snowboarding and skiing in Utah and at Gore Mt. and Killington. Everyone who knew Eddie knew he lived in “Eddie’s Time,” which meant he took no notice of the clock and was perpetually late for everything.
On Aug. 3, 1985, in Norwich, Eddie married Kimberly A. Gaylord. He is survived by his wife, Kim, and daughters Jessica and Abigail; his parents, Joseph and Elena Amelia; his sister, Grace Mooney and husband Mike; and brothers Anthony “Nouch” and wife Sue, and Rick and wife Dagny, all of Norwich. Also surviving are canine buddies Burton and Lady, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Eddie will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 23, from St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church. The Rev. Ralph Bove, Pastor of St. Bartholomew’s, and the Rev. Anthony LaFache, Pastor of St. Anthony’s Church in Utica, will officiate. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Eddie’s family would appreciate memorial contributions to either St. Bartholomew’s Church, 8 Silver St., Norwich, NY 13815; or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.