In Memory Of
David Capetillo
1929
2021
David Capetillo
October 4, 1929 — January 1, 2021
David Capetillo Sr. lived his last days in Orlando, Florida alongside his wife of 68 years, Ana Haydee. He passed away peacefully January 1, 2021 at the grand age of 91.
David was born October 4, 1929 in Pastales, Barrio Caguanas in Utuado, Puerto Rico to Antonio Capetillo and Felicita Bermudez. He attended High School at Antonio De Jesus Lopez High School and later decided to study at the Commercial College of Utuado. While enrolled, he enlisted in the National Guard of Utuado, Puerto Rico. He graduated in 1948 and continued his service until 1949. In 1950, he enrolled in the U.S. Army as a recruit.
Military Career
David began to gain rank slowly during each of his tours. While stationed at Fort Allen, he ascended to the rank of Sergeant and then was alerted to serve in Korea. He was stationed in Iceland where he stayed a year and then returned to the U.S. reporting to Fort Dix, New Jersey before being reassigned to Korea. In Korea, he was appointed as Personnel Sergeant and was presented the opportunity to apply to become a Warrant Officer. Six months later, Sergeant Capetillo achieved one of his dreams by becoming a Warrant Officer, Grade 1, and Personnel Officer. He attended Personnel Officer School in Fort Harrison, Indiana and graduated second in his class. He was assigned to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey as Personnel Officer and after 18 months, he was promoted to Warrant Officer, Grade 2. On this occasion, a new opportunity to progress in his military career presented itself when he was invited to consider becoming a Commissioned Officer. Because it was in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. he decided to travel to Washington to consult and find out for himself the details of that transition to the Pentagon. Thinking about progressing his career, and though it carried risks, he decided to accept this new challenge and applied. Six months later, he was promoted to First Lieutenant (bypassing the rank of Second Lieutenant).
Later, David was reassigned to France where he spent three years, and where he was promoted to Captain. After this tour of duty, he travelled to Puerto Rico and eventually, to Newark, New Jersey to serve as Personnel Officer. Some time later, he transferred to Vietnam where he served as a Personnel Officer and Company Commander. Captain Capetillo was transferred from Vietnam to the Entrance and Recruitment Station in Fort Brooke, Puerto Rico. Once again, he received orders for Vietnam and upon fulfilling the required time, he was assigned to the Puerto Rico National Guard at Puerta De Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico as an Administration Advisor. After 25 years of service, David retired from the United States Army having achieved the rank of Major.
There is a chance that the Major Capetillo is not only the first Utuadeño, but the first Puerto Rican, who enlisted in the Army as a Recruit, ascended to First Class Soldier, Corporal, Sergeant, Warrant Officer Grade 1, Chief Warrant Officer Grade 2, First Lieutenant, Captain and eventually a Major of the United States Army, while only having four years of academic preparation (as a civilian, he would later earn a bachelor's degree).
His Medals and Decorations include: Three Good Conduct Medals, Bronze Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, two United States Army Commendation Medals, Republic of China Honorable Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Republic of Vietnam Staff Officer Medal, Commissioning Medal of the National Guard of Puerto Rico, and upon retiring, the Medal for Meritorious Service.
Civil Service
After retiring, David worked at Levi's in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico as Personal Manager, where he also published and was editor of the magazine "Levi's Speaks". He resigned to enter the University of Puerto Rico, at the Bayamon Campus, where he completed his associate's degree. He has approved credits at the University of Maryland, Orlando College, Inter-American University, and Brooklyn College In New York. He went back to work at La Casera Foods in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico as Personnel Manager. Here, he edited a journal for employees entitled "My Company".
Despite the success achieved at Levi's and at La Casera Foods, he accepted a position back with the federal government as a staff specialist, GS 9 grade, to work for the National Park in Brooklyn, New York. Once again, he was presented with another opportunity to progress, and after working approximately two years with the National Park, he accepted a position with the Office of Staff in Orlando, Florida, and ascended to GS 11 grade. In 1980, on the heels of the Haiti conflict, David was selected for the Position of Administrative Officer in Fort Allen, Ponce, Puerto Rico with the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization. At the conclusion of that mission, he received a Special Citation for Meritorious Service at Fort Allen from the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization in Vermont. He was later reassigned to the Processing Center in Krome, Miami, Florida, as an Administrative Officer. The Texas Regional Commissioner of Immigration Naturalization Agency awarded him recognition highlighting his Outstanding Service as an Administrator Officer in Krome, Miami, Florida.
In 1982, David decided to retire from the Federal Government to enjoy a true retirement with his wife and children. Later, after returning to Utuado, Puerto Rico, he joined the American Legion Post 42 in Utuado, Puerto Rico, where eventually he would become Commandant of the Post.
Family Life
David's parents were Antonio Capetillo and Felicita Bermudez. He was the first of 11 children and his siblings were Luis, Samuel, Sarah, Nery, Judith, Nivia, Irma, Hector, Ivan, and Blanca Iris (Cookie).
While living in Utuado, Puerto Rico, he met his beautiful bride, Ana Haydee Negron. While stationed in Camp Losey (Fort Allen), he began courting Ana, who at the time was studying at the Catholic University in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Months later, after receiving the blessing of her parents, they were married on December 20, 1952.
They were blessed with 5 children: Jorge, Virginia (Ginny), Diana, David Jr., and Raymond. They blessed him with 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
David enjoyed sports and was a fan of the Orlando Magic and New York Mets. He loved all types of music and thoroughly enjoyed the hits of Connie Francis, the ballads of Los Panchos, and the traditional songs of Christmas Parrandas.
David and Ana were parishioners of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Orlando, Florida.
Funeral and Memorial Service
Viewing will be held on January 7, 2021 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Newcomers Funeral Home, 895 S. Goldenrod Road, Orlando, Florida (407) 277-4227.
Services will be held on January 8, 2021 at 10 am at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 5900 Oleander Drive, Orlando, Florida, with interment to follow around 12 noon at Chapel Hill Cemetery, 2420 Harrell Road, Orlando, Florida.
Sympathy flowers may be sent to Newcomers Funeral Home.
David was born October 4, 1929 in Pastales, Barrio Caguanas in Utuado, Puerto Rico to Antonio Capetillo and Felicita Bermudez. He attended High School at Antonio De Jesus Lopez High School and later decided to study at the Commercial College of Utuado. While enrolled, he enlisted in the National Guard of Utuado, Puerto Rico. He graduated in 1948 and continued his service until 1949. In 1950, he enrolled in the U.S. Army as a recruit.
Military Career
David began to gain rank slowly during each of his tours. While stationed at Fort Allen, he ascended to the rank of Sergeant and then was alerted to serve in Korea. He was stationed in Iceland where he stayed a year and then returned to the U.S. reporting to Fort Dix, New Jersey before being reassigned to Korea. In Korea, he was appointed as Personnel Sergeant and was presented the opportunity to apply to become a Warrant Officer. Six months later, Sergeant Capetillo achieved one of his dreams by becoming a Warrant Officer, Grade 1, and Personnel Officer. He attended Personnel Officer School in Fort Harrison, Indiana and graduated second in his class. He was assigned to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey as Personnel Officer and after 18 months, he was promoted to Warrant Officer, Grade 2. On this occasion, a new opportunity to progress in his military career presented itself when he was invited to consider becoming a Commissioned Officer. Because it was in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. he decided to travel to Washington to consult and find out for himself the details of that transition to the Pentagon. Thinking about progressing his career, and though it carried risks, he decided to accept this new challenge and applied. Six months later, he was promoted to First Lieutenant (bypassing the rank of Second Lieutenant).
Later, David was reassigned to France where he spent three years, and where he was promoted to Captain. After this tour of duty, he travelled to Puerto Rico and eventually, to Newark, New Jersey to serve as Personnel Officer. Some time later, he transferred to Vietnam where he served as a Personnel Officer and Company Commander. Captain Capetillo was transferred from Vietnam to the Entrance and Recruitment Station in Fort Brooke, Puerto Rico. Once again, he received orders for Vietnam and upon fulfilling the required time, he was assigned to the Puerto Rico National Guard at Puerta De Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico as an Administration Advisor. After 25 years of service, David retired from the United States Army having achieved the rank of Major.
There is a chance that the Major Capetillo is not only the first Utuadeño, but the first Puerto Rican, who enlisted in the Army as a Recruit, ascended to First Class Soldier, Corporal, Sergeant, Warrant Officer Grade 1, Chief Warrant Officer Grade 2, First Lieutenant, Captain and eventually a Major of the United States Army, while only having four years of academic preparation (as a civilian, he would later earn a bachelor's degree).
His Medals and Decorations include: Three Good Conduct Medals, Bronze Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, two United States Army Commendation Medals, Republic of China Honorable Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Republic of Vietnam Staff Officer Medal, Commissioning Medal of the National Guard of Puerto Rico, and upon retiring, the Medal for Meritorious Service.
Civil Service
After retiring, David worked at Levi's in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico as Personal Manager, where he also published and was editor of the magazine "Levi's Speaks". He resigned to enter the University of Puerto Rico, at the Bayamon Campus, where he completed his associate's degree. He has approved credits at the University of Maryland, Orlando College, Inter-American University, and Brooklyn College In New York. He went back to work at La Casera Foods in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico as Personnel Manager. Here, he edited a journal for employees entitled "My Company".
Despite the success achieved at Levi's and at La Casera Foods, he accepted a position back with the federal government as a staff specialist, GS 9 grade, to work for the National Park in Brooklyn, New York. Once again, he was presented with another opportunity to progress, and after working approximately two years with the National Park, he accepted a position with the Office of Staff in Orlando, Florida, and ascended to GS 11 grade. In 1980, on the heels of the Haiti conflict, David was selected for the Position of Administrative Officer in Fort Allen, Ponce, Puerto Rico with the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization. At the conclusion of that mission, he received a Special Citation for Meritorious Service at Fort Allen from the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization in Vermont. He was later reassigned to the Processing Center in Krome, Miami, Florida, as an Administrative Officer. The Texas Regional Commissioner of Immigration Naturalization Agency awarded him recognition highlighting his Outstanding Service as an Administrator Officer in Krome, Miami, Florida.
In 1982, David decided to retire from the Federal Government to enjoy a true retirement with his wife and children. Later, after returning to Utuado, Puerto Rico, he joined the American Legion Post 42 in Utuado, Puerto Rico, where eventually he would become Commandant of the Post.
Family Life
David's parents were Antonio Capetillo and Felicita Bermudez. He was the first of 11 children and his siblings were Luis, Samuel, Sarah, Nery, Judith, Nivia, Irma, Hector, Ivan, and Blanca Iris (Cookie).
While living in Utuado, Puerto Rico, he met his beautiful bride, Ana Haydee Negron. While stationed in Camp Losey (Fort Allen), he began courting Ana, who at the time was studying at the Catholic University in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Months later, after receiving the blessing of her parents, they were married on December 20, 1952.
They were blessed with 5 children: Jorge, Virginia (Ginny), Diana, David Jr., and Raymond. They blessed him with 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
David enjoyed sports and was a fan of the Orlando Magic and New York Mets. He loved all types of music and thoroughly enjoyed the hits of Connie Francis, the ballads of Los Panchos, and the traditional songs of Christmas Parrandas.
David and Ana were parishioners of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Orlando, Florida.
Funeral and Memorial Service
Viewing will be held on January 7, 2021 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Newcomers Funeral Home, 895 S. Goldenrod Road, Orlando, Florida (407) 277-4227.
Services will be held on January 8, 2021 at 10 am at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 5900 Oleander Drive, Orlando, Florida, with interment to follow around 12 noon at Chapel Hill Cemetery, 2420 Harrell Road, Orlando, Florida.
Sympathy flowers may be sent to Newcomers Funeral Home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of David Capetillo, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, January 7, 2021
5:00 - 9:00 pm (Eastern time)
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Guestbook
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