Judge Frank Caprio Asked Followers to ‘Remember Me in Your Prayers’ Before His Death at 88
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Judge Frank Caprio, the retired Rhode Island municipal court judge whose courtroom compassion made him a viral sensation, has died at the age of 88. His passing was announced on Aug. 20 through his official social media accounts, one day after he shared a heartfelt video from his hospital bed asking his millions of followers to keep him in their prayers.
“Last year I asked you to pray for me, and it’s very obvious that you did because I came through a very difficult period,” Caprio said in his Aug. 19 post. “Unfortunately, I’ve had a setback. I’m back in the hospital. I ask you again, if it’s not too much, that you can remember me in your prayers. I’m a great believer in the power of prayers. I think the Almighty is watching over us. So remember me, please.”
The video, captioned with his words, “As I continue this difficult battle, your prayers will lift my spirit,” would become his final public message. Caprio had revealed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, sharing the news shortly after his 87th birthday. Calling the diagnosis “insidious,” he said at the time, “This birthday is a little different than any other I have ever had.”
Caprio died peacefully following what his family described as a “long and courageous battle.” In a statement, his loved ones praised his “compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people,” noting that his “warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.” They added: “He will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. His legacy lives on in the countless acts of kindness he inspired.”
Born Francesco Caprio in Providence in 1936, he was the son of an Italian immigrant fruit peddler. After graduating from Providence College, he studied law at Suffolk University while teaching high school government. He was appointed to the Providence Municipal Court in 1985 and served as chief judge until his retirement in 2023.
It was his television program Caught in Providence that brought him to international fame. The show, which aired locally for years before entering national syndication in 2018, showcased Caprio’s courtroom rulings on minor offenses such as traffic violations. His unique approach—often reducing or dismissing fines based on defendants’ personal circumstances—resonated with audiences worldwide. Clips of him inviting children to help make rulings or showing leniency toward struggling families went viral on TikTok and Instagram, earning him more than 3.5 million followers on Instagram and 1.7 million on TikTok.
Known as the “Nicest Judge in the World,” Caprio often said he ruled “with his heart” as much as with the law. “I don’t wear a badge under my robe,” he once remarked. “I wear a heart.” His emphasis on compassion and fairness helped redefine what justice could look like, transforming mundane municipal hearings into powerful lessons in empathy.
Tributes poured in after his death. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee called him a “Rhode Island treasure,” adding: “On a personal level, he was a friend who faced his illness with bravery, and I will miss him dearly.” McKee ordered that flags across Rhode Island be flown at half-mast in his honor.
Caprio is survived by his wife Joyce, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His family and supporters say his greatest legacy will not be his rulings, but the kindness he modeled.
Just days before his death, he left behind one final reflection that now resonates as his parting gift: “A life built on kindness is a life that echoes long after we’re gone.”