Obituary for Robert W. Capstick
Robert Wilson “Cappy” Capstick, Sr. formally of Newton, Massachusetts passed away on May 1, 2020 at
the age of 97 in Roslindale, MA.
Born on March 1, 1923 to the late Richard Barton Capstick, Sr. and Josephine (Sage), he was the second
generation of Capstick’s born and raised in the City of Newton. His grandfather arrived in Newton from
Hincaster, England in the early 1880’s and opened a florist shop in Auburndale. He grew up playing
baseball at the Newton Centre playground and hockey on Crystal Lake, graduating from Newton High
School in 1940 and then attending Boston University until he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World
War II.
His National World War II Memorial Honoree Registry plaque reads in part: “He entered service August
24, 1942. Served with the Headquarters Battery American Division Artillery as a draftsman, topographic,
in the northern Solomon Islands. Received the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic
Pacific Theater Medal, American Theater Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, and Honorable Discharge
Lapel Button. Marksman, rifle. Honorable Discharge January 27, 1946.”
Before serving overseas he attended the US Army Specialized Training Program at Georgetown
University in Washington D.C.. Following the war he completed his degree in business at Boston
University where he reported on sports for the school’s newspaper. He was married to the late Elizabeth
Anne “Betty” Gallagher of Newton Centre at Sacred Heart Church on May 3, 1947 and they had four
children who were all born and raised in Newton. He spent the majority of his career as the credit
manager for several Boston and New England based companies and was awarded the New England
Credit Manager of the Year before finally retiring. He was a longtime member of the Lakewood Tennis
Club in Newton Highlands and an avid Red Sox and Bruins fan.
He is survived by his younger sister Patricia (Patton) Jordan and husband Ed of Medfield MA and was
predeceased by his older brother, Richard Barton Capstick Jr.. of Newton who was born in 1919 and died
before his first birthday during the Spanish Flu pandemic. He is also survived by his daughter Linda Anne
Merloni and husband Dana of Plymouth MA, son Robert W. Capstick, Jr. and wife Beth (Carleo) of
Newton MA, son Richard Charles Capstick and wife Sheri (Epstein) of Bluffton SC, and daughter
Cathryn Marie Costello and husband James of Roslindale; as well as 8 grandchildren: Dominic Merloni
of Marlboro MA, Andrea Merloni Leuschner and husband Michael of West Hartford, CT), Catherine
(Capstick) Button and husband David of Norwood, MA, Christine (Capstick) Bracci and husband
Christopher of South Boston, MA, Patrick Costello and wife Alexandra of Washington D.C., Sara
Costello of Dorchester, MA, Matthew Gallagher Capstick-Dempsey and wife Jessica of Newburyport,
MA, Kathleen Elizabeth Capstick of Cambridge, MA; and 7 great-grandchildren: John Leuschner,
Isabella Leuschner, Anna Button, Gregory Button, Tess Bracci, Xander Bracci, and Caleb Capstick-
Dempsey.
The Capstick family greatly appreciates and thanks the tremendous staff at the Hebrew SeniorLife Center
in Roslindale for their attentive and caring treatment of him over the last year and a half. Donations in
memory of Bob can made at https://give.hebrewseniorlife.org/giving.
Burial arrangements are by the Burke & Blackington Funeral Home of Newton and Newton Cemetery.
the age of 97 in Roslindale, MA.
Born on March 1, 1923 to the late Richard Barton Capstick, Sr. and Josephine (Sage), he was the second
generation of Capstick’s born and raised in the City of Newton. His grandfather arrived in Newton from
Hincaster, England in the early 1880’s and opened a florist shop in Auburndale. He grew up playing
baseball at the Newton Centre playground and hockey on Crystal Lake, graduating from Newton High
School in 1940 and then attending Boston University until he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World
War II.
His National World War II Memorial Honoree Registry plaque reads in part: “He entered service August
24, 1942. Served with the Headquarters Battery American Division Artillery as a draftsman, topographic,
in the northern Solomon Islands. Received the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic
Pacific Theater Medal, American Theater Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, and Honorable Discharge
Lapel Button. Marksman, rifle. Honorable Discharge January 27, 1946.”
Before serving overseas he attended the US Army Specialized Training Program at Georgetown
University in Washington D.C.. Following the war he completed his degree in business at Boston
University where he reported on sports for the school’s newspaper. He was married to the late Elizabeth
Anne “Betty” Gallagher of Newton Centre at Sacred Heart Church on May 3, 1947 and they had four
children who were all born and raised in Newton. He spent the majority of his career as the credit
manager for several Boston and New England based companies and was awarded the New England
Credit Manager of the Year before finally retiring. He was a longtime member of the Lakewood Tennis
Club in Newton Highlands and an avid Red Sox and Bruins fan.
He is survived by his younger sister Patricia (Patton) Jordan and husband Ed of Medfield MA and was
predeceased by his older brother, Richard Barton Capstick Jr.. of Newton who was born in 1919 and died
before his first birthday during the Spanish Flu pandemic. He is also survived by his daughter Linda Anne
Merloni and husband Dana of Plymouth MA, son Robert W. Capstick, Jr. and wife Beth (Carleo) of
Newton MA, son Richard Charles Capstick and wife Sheri (Epstein) of Bluffton SC, and daughter
Cathryn Marie Costello and husband James of Roslindale; as well as 8 grandchildren: Dominic Merloni
of Marlboro MA, Andrea Merloni Leuschner and husband Michael of West Hartford, CT), Catherine
(Capstick) Button and husband David of Norwood, MA, Christine (Capstick) Bracci and husband
Christopher of South Boston, MA, Patrick Costello and wife Alexandra of Washington D.C., Sara
Costello of Dorchester, MA, Matthew Gallagher Capstick-Dempsey and wife Jessica of Newburyport,
MA, Kathleen Elizabeth Capstick of Cambridge, MA; and 7 great-grandchildren: John Leuschner,
Isabella Leuschner, Anna Button, Gregory Button, Tess Bracci, Xander Bracci, and Caleb Capstick-
Dempsey.
The Capstick family greatly appreciates and thanks the tremendous staff at the Hebrew SeniorLife Center
in Roslindale for their attentive and caring treatment of him over the last year and a half. Donations in
memory of Bob can made at https://give.hebrewseniorlife.org/giving.
Burial arrangements are by the Burke & Blackington Funeral Home of Newton and Newton Cemetery.