Thousands Gather At Funeral For Fallen Firefighter Daniel Capuano
Updated 12/18/15 - 1:39 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Thousands of relatives, friends, and colleagues of fallen Chicago Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel Capuano gathered at St. Rita of Cascia High school on Friday to pay tribute to a dedicated firefighter, father, and role model.
It was a somber morning for the Capuano family and the entire Chicago Fire Department. Thousands of firefighters from departments all across the state turned out in their dress blues for Capuano's funeral mass Friday morning.
"Cap was a very funny, loving, giving individual. You could always count on him. He always kept things going, so it would make the day go by a little quicker" said one Chicago firefighter who identified himself only as Gilmore. "It's mixed emotions right now. Some people, it's heartache, and some of them we find the good that we had the time that we had."
Capuano, 42, was a 15-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, and member of the Evergreen Park Fire Department for more than 16 years. He left behind a wife and three children. In his spare time, he was an off-ice coach for the St. Jude Hockey Club.
Rev. Thomas McCarthy, pastor of Queen of Martyrs Church in Evergreen Park, where the Capuano family are parishioners, delivered the homily, calling Capuano "a true hero."
McCarthy said Capuano's children were the joy of his heart.
"Your dad would do anything for you, and of course Julie, the love of his life," he said.
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McCarthy told the story about how Capuano's oldest daughter, Amanda, went to the state championships in cheerleading.
"He took the train down to Springfield in a blizzard so that he could be with his family, and of course cheer on his little girl," McCarthy said.
Among those attending Capuano's funeral were families of other fallen Chicago firefighters.
"We've all walked this walk, and we are just so sorry, especially for the children. They've lost their dad, and there's no getting that back, and it's Christmas, and I say God bless them all. I hope, in time, they find their way through it, and they know how much they're loved, and how much Dan will never, ever be forgotten," said Mary Rose McNamee, president of the Gold Badge Society, which provides support to the families of fallen firefighters.
Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago said Capuano loved being a firefighter, despite the dangers of the job.
"No matter the size of the fire, there's always danger when you enter a building that is full of smoke, with zero visibility," Santiago said.
That fact was made tragically clear at the fire that claimed Capuano's life. Fire officials have said it was nothing more than a rubbish fire, but it filled the vacant warehouse with smoke. The smoke left Capuano unable to see an unmarked and unprotected open elevator shaft in the building, and he fell two stories to his death.
City officials have since gone to court, seeking to demolish the building where Capuano died. The city's Department of Buildings has said unauthorized work was being performed at the warehouse, including the removal of the elevator.
After the funeral mass, Capuano's casket was be placed on top of Engine 72, which led a procession past the family's home in Mount Greenwood on its way to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip. Streets along the procession route were lined with black and purple bunting put up by the hockey players Capuano coached.
Capuano was the second member of Tower 34 to die in the line of duty in the past five years.
In 2010, both Corey Ankum, of Tower 34, and Edward Stringer, of Engine Company 63, were killed while fighting a fire at an abandoned South Shore building.
