Fun, loud and a loving father is how Rico Capocci is being remembered.
His family speaks with CTV News on how his spirit will live on after his unexpected death.
Rico’s mother, Rita Capocci, described him as “fun, fun, fun, fun.” She added, “Rico did what he wanted to do. He loved hard. If he loved you, he loved you forever.”
For 39-year-old Rico Capocci, that meant loving his children, all 10 of them, ranging in age from one to 19 years old.
“He never missed a game. He never missed an award ceremony. He never missed nothing,” his mother stated.
Now, he will be watching all those games, graduations, and proms from up above.
“I just knew that something happened. And I even knew. It had to do with his motorcycle. I hated that motorcycle,” his mother said.
Early Saturday morning, Rita got the heartbreaking news.
“I was 100% against it. And I told him, this motorcycle is going to kill you,” she said.
The devastating loss has left a lasting impact on the entire family. Rita recalled how the children took it very hard.
“Mom, they all took it very hard. Very hard. They they had to watch him take his last breath. They were there by his bed. They didn’t let go for five hours, crying, wailing, you know. Please, daddy, wake up.”
His 15-year-old daughter, Raevyn, describes him as her best friend.
She said, “I’m just trying my best because I know that no matter where my dad is, he’s still a part of me, and he’s still here. I love him so much. And I miss him a lot.”
Rico is now with one of his beloved dogs, Bane, who passed away a few short weeks ago. His family says he will always be remembered as larger than life.
“He was so loud all the time. And sometimes I’m like, Rico, why are you yelling? ‘I’m not. I’m Italian. That’s just how we talk.’ And his son’s just like him. His son’s Rico junior. And he’s so loud all the time,” one family member recounted.
Rita’s final wish for her son was: “Rest in peace, and I want him to know that we will be okay because he would not want this. The last thing he would ever want to do is leave his children in this way and so soon. And we love you. We love you, baby.”
One of Rico’s sons, Noah, plays on the LaSalle Guardians U-12 basketball team. They’ve set up a Go Fund Me account to help the family.