Dan Capuano's Children Pen Farewell Letters to Father

The children of fallen Chicago Firefighter Dan Capuano wrote poignant tributes to their father, which were read at his funeral mass on Friday.

Capuano died on Dec. 14 when he fell through an elevator shaft fighting a fire at a building in the 9200 block of South Baltimore. City officials say the owner was doing illegal construction work without a permit on the building, which included removing the elevator shaft.

• Also on Patch: South Side Says Goodbye to a Good Fireman

Hundreds turned out for the firefighter’s funeral and residents lined the streets of Mt. Greenwood for procession from St. Rita High School to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Capuano was also a part-time firefighter for the Evergreen Park Fire Department.

In addition to his wife, Julie, Capuano leaves three children, Amanda, 16, Andrew, 13 and Nick, 12.

Here are excerpts of the children’s farewell letters to their father.

Amanda

My first memory of my dad was sitting on his knee in the Evergreen Park firehouse with a bag of popcorn. It was a sunny day. I was probably only three years old. I can’t remember why I was there or what was going on. All I can remember is taking a photo with him.

Last Thursday, my dad picked me up. It was just him and me because mom was at work and the boys were at school. It was 1:40. We had a whole hour to ourselves before Nick and Andrew got out of school. We hid the Christmas presents, and we picked some really good hiding spots.

“That was the last time I really got to spend time with him was that Friday... I didn’t talk to him on Sunday. I will never get over that. I wish I had one more phone call with him just so I could say goodbye.

Andrew

My dad was a great dad, husband, brother, godfather, son and role model. I really look up to my dad. He would teach me how to do things like cook, mow the lawn, clip the lawn, be a gentleman and put others first, and be the best I could be. He was loving, kind, fun, respectable.

I remember when I’d be on the ice he would do funny motions with his hands to show when to check our opponent. He cared about his family. My dad would get us kid stuff we wanted and worked extra shifts so we could go to Catholic schools …

“I always wanted to be like him. I want my confirmation name to be after his middle name and his grandfather’s name, and I will have his name in mine: Andrew Daniel Vincent Capuano.

Nick

“First of all, my dad was the best guy I knew. The main thing that means to me is that he cares for me and my family because he gives us a lot of love and he gives me and us a roof over our head. He also has food on the table and sends me to a Catholic school because he loves me.

He saves a lot of people who he doesn’t know. Another thing that my dad used to do is be a hard worker .

He was a well-liked man. He really loves Paco the dog. Dad really loves my mom — Julie — Andrew, Amanda, Paco, friends and family, the Chicago Fire Department and the Evergreen Fire Department.

Read the letters in their entirety on the Chicago Tribune