People all across the world are unhappy because the “nicest judge in the world” has passed away.
But we might not have known Frank Caprio at all if his wife Joyce hadn’t told us about him.
Helped his dad with the milk truck.
Judge Frank Caprio passed away at the age of 88. People knew him for his emotional and viral moments in court. After a long and heroic fight against pancreatic cancer, the former judge from Providence, Rhode Island, died “peacefully.”
Antonio Caprio and Filomena Caprio had three boys. Caprio was the second son. Antonio Caprio immigrated to the US from Teano, Italy, and Filomena Caprio’s family came from Naples. He was raised in Federal Hill, a neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island, where many Italian Americans lived. Caprio’s father sold milk and fruit, which had a huge effect on how Caprio saw the world and made decisions as a judge later on.
When he was a kid, Caprio would get up at 4 a.m. to help his dad with the milk truck before school. He remembers that his dad would keep delivering even to families who couldn’t pay.
Caprio told the Associated Press in 2002, “My father never stopped bringing milk to people who had kids.” He then said, “He would take money out of his pocket and tell the company, ‘They paid.'”
“He was a nice and caring person.” His influence has had a huge impact on me.
Get famous.
Caprio went to public schools in Providence while working as a dishwasher and shoe shiner. He went to Central High School and won the state wrestling title there in 1953.
He graduated from Providence College with a bachelor’s degree in 1958. After that, he began teaching American government at Hope High School in Providence. At this time, he was going to Suffolk University School of Law in Boston at night to prepare for a career in law.
Caprio’s traffic court cases made him renowned all over the world. They went viral on social media and gained more than 1.7 billion views. People knew that Caprio was fair and caring, and he carefully thought about how each person’s condition might affect his decision.
But it was unclear if Frank would become famous.
His younger brother Joe had been photographing him for local access television for 25 years. Joyce, Caprio’s wife, was the one who thought of using the clip to show off his work in court.
Caprio told Rhode Island Monthly, “I didn’t like the idea, but I usually don’t win when my wife suggests something.”
“I said we should give it a shot and see how well it works.” And the answer was great.
WLNE-TV presented the instances initially, and then ABC 6 showed them at the turn of the century, which made him more well-known in the area. But it was John Methia, the senior producer for Citylife Production and a member of Sociable, who posted films on sites like Facebook and YouTube that made Caprio popular all over the world.
Debmar-Mercury called Caprio in 2017 and told him about “the magic phone call.” This made Caught in Providence famous all over the country. The show had 130 episodes that ran twice a day on Fox. It was available to 90% of the country, including major areas like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
“It’s like a dream,” said Joe Caprio, who is in charge of the show. “God is good that this happened to me now that I’m not a kid…” I have always been genuine to myself. What we saw is what exists. “It’s all about a nice person helping other people.”
Frank Caprio’s wife is Joyce Caprio.
Frank and Joyce got married in 1965 and had five kids together: Frank T., David, Marissa, John, and Paul. They have seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, which made their family bigger.
Joyce was Frank’s biggest fan in both his work and his public life. She was also a loving mother and grandma.
She attended to a number of events with him, but even though they were famous, they kept their private life very private and lived away from the public eye.
Joyce stayed with Frank during his last months while he fought pancreatic cancer. He talked about their home life sometimes, and in one emotional social media post, he thanked her for always being there for him and dubbed her “the wonderful woman who gave me the greatest gift of all: our five amazing children!”
“Your strength, love, and never-ending devotion shape our family every day,” he said next.
In March 2025, Frank celebrated his wife and their long-lasting marriage again.
“From 1964 to 2024, it has been a great 60-year ride.” The second photo marks the beginning of our story: the day in 1964 when my beautiful wife and I said “I do.” We were full of hope, dreams, and excitement about what was to come.
These 60 years have been nothing short of amazing, and every day I am reminded of how lucky I am to have someone so special in my life. Cheers to us, our love, and many more years together. ❤️
Frank sent his wife a sweet note and picture just a few months before he died. It was a touching goodbye and tribute to the woman who meant so much to him. A picture can say more than words.
Frank Caprio’s life revealed that he was a kind, humble, and committed person who cared about his family and the individuals that came to his court. Caprio always remembered what his father taught him: to be polite, fair, and give. He began on Federal Hill, an Italian-American community in Providence, and his courtroom went viral, making him famous all around the world.
Joyce was always there for him. She was the quiet force behind his public life, and she was there for him through all of his successes and failures. They were married for decades and had five kids, seven grandkids, and two great-grandkids. This document demonstrates a lifetime of love and devotion.
We honor more than just a viral judge when we remember Frank Caprio. We honor a guy who led with love, was a faithful husband, and lived a life full of meaning and kindness. His story, along with Joyce’s continual presence, will leave a lasting mark that will inspire future generations.
