The “nicest judge in the world” has died, and people all across the world are upset about it.
But we might not have met Frank Caprio at all if it weren’t for his wife, Joyce.
Helped his dad with the milk truck.
Judge Frank Caprio has passed away at the age of 88. He was famous for his emotional and viral moments in court. The former judge from Providence, Rhode Island, died “peacefully” after a long and heroic fight against pancreatic cancer.
Antonio Caprio, who emigrated to the United States from Teano, Italy, and Filomena Caprio, whose family came from Naples, had three sons. Caprio was the second of these sons. He lived in the Italian-American neighborhood of Federal Hill in Providence, Rhode Island, as a child. Caprio’s father sold milk and fruit, which had a huge effect on how Caprio saw the world and how he made decisions as a judge later on.
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As a kid, Caprio would get up at 4 a.m. to help his dad with the milk truck before school. He remembers that his father would keep delivering even to families that couldn’t pay.
Caprio said in 2002 to the Associated Press, “My father never stopped delivering milk to anyone who had a child.” He then said, “He would take money out of his pocket and tell the company, ‘They made a payment.'”
“He was a kind and compassionate person. His impact has changed me a lot.
Get famous.
Caprio went to public schools in Providence while he worked as a dishwasher and shoe-shiner. In 1953, he won the state wrestling title while still in high school.
He graduated from Providence College with a bachelor’s degree in 1958 and then began teaching American government at Hope High School in Providence. At this time, he was going to night classes at Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, which helped him become ready for a career in law.
His traffic court cases went viral on social media and gained more than 1.7 billion views, making him renowned all over the world. Caprio was known for being fair and nice, and he carefully thought about how each person’s condition might affect his decision.
But it wasn’t certain if Frank would become famous.
For 25 years, his younger brother Joe had been filming him for local access TV. Joyce, Caprio’s wife, came up with the idea to use 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 that battle when my wife suggests something.”
“I suggested we give it a shot and see how well it works.” The answer was great.
WLNE-TV was the first to air the cases, and then ABC 6 featured them at the turn of the century, which made him more popular in the area. However, it was John Methia of Sociable, who is also the senior producer for Citylife Production, who placed films on sites like Facebook and YouTube that made Caprio popular all over the world.
In 2017, Debmar-Mercury called Caprio and told him about the “magic phone call.” Caught in Providence got a lot of national attention because of this. The show had 130 episodes that ran twice a day on Fox. It reached 90% of the country, including key areas like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
“It’s like a dream,” said Joe Caprio, the show’s executive producer. “I am not a child, so for this to happen to me now, God is good…” I stayed true to myself all these years. What we saw is what we saw. “It’s all about a kind person helping others.”
Frank Caprio is married to Joyce Caprio.
Frank and Joyce got married in 1965 and have five children: Frank T., David, Marissa, John, and Paul. Their family grew when they had seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Joyce was Frank’s biggest fan in both his work and personal life. She was also a loving mother and grandma.
They attended to a lot of events together, but even though they were famous, they kept their personal lives very private and lived away from the public eye.
In his dying months, Joyce stayed with Frank while he fought pancreatic cancer. He talked about their life at home sometimes, and in one heartfelt post on social media, 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!”
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He said, “Your strength, love, and never-ending devotion shape our family every day.”
In March 2025, Frank celebrated his wife and their long-lasting marriage once more.
“It’s been a great 60 years from 1964 to 2024.” The second picture marks the beginning of our story: the moment in 1964 when my beautiful wife and I said “I do.” We had a lot of hope, dreams, and excitement about the future.
These last 60 years have been amazing, and every day I remember how great it is to share my life with someone so special. Here’s to us, our love, and many more years to come. ❤️
Frank sent his wife a sweet picture and note just a few months before he died. It was a touching goodbye and tribute to the woman who meant a lot to him. A picture can say more than words can.
Frank Caprio’s life indicated that he was compassionate, humble, and loyal to his family and the individuals that came to his court. Caprio always remembered what his father taught him about being kind, fair, and giving. He started up in Federal Hill, an Italian-American area in Providence. His courtroom went viral, and he became famous around the world.
There was always Joyce there for him. She was the quiet force behind his public life, and she was there for him through every victory and setback. They were married for a long time and had five kids, seven grandkids, and two great-grandkids. This album depicts a lifetime of love and hard work.
When we think about Frank Caprio, we honor more than just a famous judge. We honor a guy who led with love, was a faithful husband, and lived a life full of purpose and kindness. His story, together with Joyce’s continual presence, will leave a mark that will inspire people for years to come.