Funeral Arrangements Announced for Judge Frank Caprio, Beloved “Caught in Providence” Star
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The family of Judge Frank Caprio, the retired Providence Municipal Court chief judge affectionately known worldwide as the “Nicest Judge in the World,” has announced funeral arrangements following his death at the age of 88.
Caprio, who passed away peacefully on August 20 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, will be laid to rest in Rhode Island, the state he served for nearly four decades from the bench and for much of his life as a public servant.
According to an official statement released by his family, visiting hours will be held at Nardolillo Funeral Home in Cranston on Thursday, August 28, from 3 to 7 p.m., allowing the public to pay their respects. A Funeral Mass will follow on Friday, August 29, at 11 a.m. at St. Ann’s Church in Providence, with burial to take place immediately afterward at St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston.
The family emphasized that while the services will be open to the community, a private interment ceremony will be reserved for close relatives.
“Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” the family’s statement read. “We invite those who loved him to join us in celebrating a life defined by compassion, humility, and kindness.”
Tributes have continued to pour in since Caprio’s passing. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee ordered flags at state buildings to be flown at half-mast until the day of his interment, calling him a “Rhode Island treasure” who “faced his illness with bravery.”
Caprio rose to international fame through his television program Caught in Providence, which showcased his compassionate courtroom style. Clips from the show went viral on social media, drawing billions of views and earning him millions of followers around the world.
He is survived by his wife Joyce, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.