Mr. Carl Ernest Capobianco

Carl Capobianco, born May 19, 1947 to Ernest and Anna (Prieber) Capobianco, died peacefully in his sleep on December 5, 2024, in Gainesville, FL. His former wife, Susan, life partner, Brian, and brother and fishing buddy, Anthony, predecease him. His daughter, Cassandra, his son, Jordan, and Cassandra's three sons, August (Gus), Sam, and Jack, survive him. Carl loved to be outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and crabber, who loved to boat and wade deep into the Gulf of Mexico and fish, once while a shark nibbled his shoelaces! As a young man, he hunted, tracked, and trapped in the woods near his home in Congers, NY. He loved bringing home game for his mother to cook, and starting at age 13yo, a share of the money he made working as a cook. He attended Clarkstown High School and kept in touch with a group of friends from his school days up until his death. Carl served in the Army during the Vietnam War. In one of the great blessings and honors of his life, he was assigned to General William Westmoreland's kitchen detail, where he rose to the position of the General's personal chef. He traveled in Europe with the General. He met and served glorious meals to former presidents and first ladies, movie stars, and heads of state (including the Shah of Iran, who sent gifts of gold caviar that the General did not prefer, and gave to Carl, who ate it by the tablespoonful). And, he became "Sergeant Cap," a treasured member of the Westmoreland household. Carl attended the Culinary Institute of America, where he honed his skills as a chef. He worked at local institution, The Bully Boy, in Rockland County, and lovingly cared for his parents, who died of cancer. He met Susan Zucker, and they married and had Cassandra, and 3 years later, Jordan. Together, they opened a restaurant, The Cornucopia, in Saugerties, NY, where Carl made beautiful and creatively named dishes, such as Pasta at Low Tide, Cassandra's Apple Pie, and Jordy's Fudge Nut Cake. After nearly a decade, they sold the restaurant and moved to Tampa, FL, a life change in search of opportunity and warmer climes. While Susan pursued a doctorate in instructional technology, Carl worked for Wright's Gourmet House and had a restaurant in downtown Tampa, the Club Cafe. After their divorce, Carl met Brian, with whom he lived while he ran the dining services at Stetson Law School. After Brian's death, Carl continued working at Stetson, then at Gulfport Yacht Club until his retirement. After several years and many, many fishing hours during his retirement in Gulfport, Carl moved to Alachua, near Cassandra and her children. They shared many fun times building pillow towers, reading stacks of books, cooking, watching movies, and eating adventurous things. He liked to cook their favorite things: spaghetti and meatballs, eggs Benedict, super-cheesy grits. And lobster (or "Monsters" per toddler Sam)! When Susan was dying of glioblastoma many years after their divorce, he cooked meals of her favorite things for her, like clams oreganata. Carl taught his kids and grandkids to cook, to love opera and classical music, and to look deeply and walk quietly in nature. He was a generous and loving man, artistic and creative, boisterous and refined, funny and sentimental, with a strong appreciation for both fine and simple things. We will miss him and carry him with us as we go.

Tributes

Mr. Carl Ernest Capobianco

May 19, 1947 - December 5, 2024