John F. Caponera Yorkville John F. Caponera, 85, of Yorkville, went to join his beloved wife, Catherine, on December 31, 2006 after a brief illness. John was born on February 19, 1921 in Utica, the oldest son of Hector and Bridget Julian Caponera. He was raised and educated locally, attending Sacred Heart School and Utica Vocational School and graduating from Utica College of Syracuse University. John served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II during the North African and European Theaters of operation as a radio operator. In 1949, he married Catherine Menzione of Naples, Italy, in Sacred Heart Church, Utica. Their union lasted fifty-two years, until Catherine passed away in November of 2000. John was an active member of Sacred Heart Church, performing such duties as Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and Altar Server. John was an individual with many interests, both social and political, and who took great pride in being a liberal Democrat. He worked in the Utica Knitting Mill, The Boston Store, The Rome Air Development Center as an information specialist, WIBX Radio as an announcer, newscaster, and reporter, Ball and Greer Public Relation Firm, The Utica Observer Dispatch and Daily Press, an adjunct professor at MVCC, and taught several courses at Utica College. John was a member of the Players Theater of Utica and the Mohawk Valley Senior Adult Theater. He was an actor, an author and a playwright. He appeared and had the lead role in the production of "On Golden Pond" at the Players Theater. He wrote plays and music that were performed at Utica College such as "Our Town" and "Purple Mountain". He appeared in Community Theater productions in many area theatrical organizations. John is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Ann Marie and William Szczerba, New York Mills, Michele (Shelly) Kaye, Utica; four grandchildren, Lawrence Szczerba, Bethany and Paul Liccardo, Catherine Brown, and Claudia and Jonathan Warner; three great grandchildren, Dominick Anthony Liccardo, Olivia Liccardo, and Gracie Ann Brown; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Eleanor Buttenschon, Syracuse, Theresa and John Dziura, New Hartford, Dolores Usyk, Utica; one brother, Raymond Caponera, California. Also surviving are several special friends, Matt and Ann Castellucci and Pat and Larry LaMore. John's funeral will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 1:00 pm at Sacred Heart Church, Utica where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will take place in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Whitestown at the convenience of the family. In keeping with John's wishes, there are no calling hours. Donations may be made to a charity of your choice. John's family wishes to extend their thanks to Kunkel Ambulance, to the Yorkville EMT's, to the staffs of Faxton-St. Luke's ER and ICU Units, and especially to Dr. Patel and nurses, Syndi, Amy, Jolene, Joann, and Carl for the care and compassion given to John and his family during this difficult time. Arrangements are entrusted to the Heintz Funeral Home, 1517 Whitesboro St., Utica.