Donald C. Cappetta, age 82, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, entered into eternal rest on December 1, 2023 at his home with his loving wife by his side.
Born January 13, 1941 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of the late Daniel D. Cappetta and Josephine Cappetta (nee Pernice).
Danny and Josie named their son Donato Clemente, later Americanized to "Donald."
Donald is survived by his wife, Brenda Cappetta (nee Troutman), with whom he celebrated 29 years of marriage on August 27, 2023.
At age 11 Donald and his family moved from Brooklyn to Paterson, New Jersey. While attending Public School # 5 in Paterson, an 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson, groomed Donald at an early age for success in his future business endeavors. She entered him in a national penmanship contest sponsored by the "Palmer Method" which Donald went on to win. She had him speak publicly and always had him memorize his speeches.
In 1958 he graduated from Eastside High School, in Paterson. He attended one semester of college at University of Kansas before transferring to Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey, where he earned his BS in accounting and his MBA, graduating magna cum laude in 1962. Later, Donald's Master's thesis was utilized by Harvard School of Business in its graduate courses.
Following college, Donald was hired as an accountant by "big eight" accounting firm Haskins and Sells in Manhattan, where he earned the "Rookie of the Year" award. From there he joined the Shulton Company, maker of Old Spice, as a salesman and won the Salesman of the Year award, establishing an annual sales record which has never been broken. He next ventured into the insurance business, joining Equitable Life Assurance of Lancaster, Pa where he worked his way up to Manager. Subsequently, Don became a sales associate for Consumers Life Insurance Co. of Camp Hill, PA. Consumers asked him to take over as Vice President of Sales, based primarily on his sale of their first $1Million policy.
Wanting to step out of corporate life, in 1984 Donald established his own company, D.C. Cappetta & Associates, specializing in financial and estate planning and life insurance. He helped set up the National Car Dealers' Association's estate planning program.
He would eventually expand into commercial real estate and land development. He completed the first IDA loan in Hershey, whereby Donald and his partner Edward Catalone purchased land and built the Golden Corral and Donuts Galore restaurant properties, where Fuddruckers and Smoked Bar and Grill now stand.
In 1992, Donald and a group of partners, in collaboration with Fred Schaeffer, built Indian Run, a neighborhood of 39 homes in Derry Township. In 1996, with a group of partners, Donald built Great Vacations of Hershey (now known as Bluegreen Suites) a successful time-share hotel on Hersheypark Drive-- a first for Hershey.
Very involved with his community, Donald served as chairman of Tri-County Easter Seals, chairman of Derry Township Sewer Authority, Derry Township Strategic Planning Committee, former treasurer Derry Township Republican Committee and many other organizations.
When not working, Don loved thoroughbred racing, golf, football, and traveling to his favorite vacation destination, Aruba. Very athletic, he won 6 long drive contests, MVP-Softball trophy- Fairleigh Dickinson Univ., and many bowling trophies in his younger days. His greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.
Don was a Veteran, having served 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.
In addition to his wife, Donald is survived by three children: son Glen Cappetta of Sarasota, Florida, and daughters Jennifer J. Cappetta, partner of Jerry Look, of Hershey and Pamela J. Cappetta, wife of Dr. L. Jon Brice of Las Vegas, Nevada; four granddaughters, Brooke and Jessie Gardner, Gigi Cappetta and Gaia Brice; a brother, A. Frank Cappetta, Lincoln Park, NJ; brothers and sisters-in-law: Myron and Kay Troutman, Rosene Ecenroad, JoAnn and Kevin Skovira, and many good friends including Rick Stoner and Conway and Carol Hammaker, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Donald was predeceased by his former wife and mother of his children, Joan Cappetta (nee Spinelli), sister-in-law April Cappetta and brother-in-law Garry Ecenroad.
Donald, a devout Christian, was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, Pa and was a devoted follower of Dr. Charles Stanley's InTouch Ministries. He was a patron of Grace Bible Class Church, Passaic, New Jersey, the church founded by his grandfather, the Rev. Rafael (Harry) Cappetta in 1950.
A memorial service will be held Friday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036, with a visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service. Interment will immediately follow at Hershey Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in Donald's honor may be made to: Friedens Lutheran Church, 301 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067; Celebration Community Church, 1048 S. Mountain Road, Dillsburg, Pa 17019; or Grace Bible Class Church, 54 Pine Street, Passaic, NJ 07055.
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trefzandbowser.com
Born January 13, 1941 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of the late Daniel D. Cappetta and Josephine Cappetta (nee Pernice).
Danny and Josie named their son Donato Clemente, later Americanized to "Donald."
Donald is survived by his wife, Brenda Cappetta (nee Troutman), with whom he celebrated 29 years of marriage on August 27, 2023.
At age 11 Donald and his family moved from Brooklyn to Paterson, New Jersey. While attending Public School # 5 in Paterson, an 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson, groomed Donald at an early age for success in his future business endeavors. She entered him in a national penmanship contest sponsored by the "Palmer Method" which Donald went on to win. She had him speak publicly and always had him memorize his speeches.
In 1958 he graduated from Eastside High School, in Paterson. He attended one semester of college at University of Kansas before transferring to Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey, where he earned his BS in accounting and his MBA, graduating magna cum laude in 1962. Later, Donald's Master's thesis was utilized by Harvard School of Business in its graduate courses.
Following college, Donald was hired as an accountant by "big eight" accounting firm Haskins and Sells in Manhattan, where he earned the "Rookie of the Year" award. From there he joined the Shulton Company, maker of Old Spice, as a salesman and won the Salesman of the Year award, establishing an annual sales record which has never been broken. He next ventured into the insurance business, joining Equitable Life Assurance of Lancaster, Pa where he worked his way up to Manager. Subsequently, Don became a sales associate for Consumers Life Insurance Co. of Camp Hill, PA. Consumers asked him to take over as Vice President of Sales, based primarily on his sale of their first $1Million policy.
Wanting to step out of corporate life, in 1984 Donald established his own company, D.C. Cappetta & Associates, specializing in financial and estate planning and life insurance. He helped set up the National Car Dealers' Association's estate planning program.
He would eventually expand into commercial real estate and land development. He completed the first IDA loan in Hershey, whereby Donald and his partner Edward Catalone purchased land and built the Golden Corral and Donuts Galore restaurant properties, where Fuddruckers and Smoked Bar and Grill now stand.
In 1992, Donald and a group of partners, in collaboration with Fred Schaeffer, built Indian Run, a neighborhood of 39 homes in Derry Township. In 1996, with a group of partners, Donald built Great Vacations of Hershey (now known as Bluegreen Suites) a successful time-share hotel on Hersheypark Drive-- a first for Hershey.
Very involved with his community, Donald served as chairman of Tri-County Easter Seals, chairman of Derry Township Sewer Authority, Derry Township Strategic Planning Committee, former treasurer Derry Township Republican Committee and many other organizations.
When not working, Don loved thoroughbred racing, golf, football, and traveling to his favorite vacation destination, Aruba. Very athletic, he won 6 long drive contests, MVP-Softball trophy- Fairleigh Dickinson Univ., and many bowling trophies in his younger days. His greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.
Don was a Veteran, having served 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.
In addition to his wife, Donald is survived by three children: son Glen Cappetta of Sarasota, Florida, and daughters Jennifer J. Cappetta, partner of Jerry Look, of Hershey and Pamela J. Cappetta, wife of Dr. L. Jon Brice of Las Vegas, Nevada; four granddaughters, Brooke and Jessie Gardner, Gigi Cappetta and Gaia Brice; a brother, A. Frank Cappetta, Lincoln Park, NJ; brothers and sisters-in-law: Myron and Kay Troutman, Rosene Ecenroad, JoAnn and Kevin Skovira, and many good friends including Rick Stoner and Conway and Carol Hammaker, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Donald was predeceased by his former wife and mother of his children, Joan Cappetta (nee Spinelli), sister-in-law April Cappetta and brother-in-law Garry Ecenroad.
Donald, a devout Christian, was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, Pa and was a devoted follower of Dr. Charles Stanley's InTouch Ministries. He was a patron of Grace Bible Class Church, Passaic, New Jersey, the church founded by his grandfather, the Rev. Rafael (Harry) Cappetta in 1950.
A memorial service will be held Friday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036, with a visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service. Interment will immediately follow at Hershey Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in Donald's honor may be made to: Friedens Lutheran Church, 301 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067; Celebration Community Church, 1048 S. Mountain Road, Dillsburg, Pa 17019; or Grace Bible Class Church, 54 Pine Street, Passaic, NJ 07055.
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trefzandbowser.com
Donald C. Cappetta, age 82, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, entered into eternal rest on December 1, 2023 at his home with his loving wife by his side.
Born January 13, 1941 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of the late Daniel D. Cappetta and Josephine Cappetta (nee Pernice).
Danny and Josie named their son Donato Clemente, later Americanized to "Donald."
Donald is survived by his wife, Brenda Cappetta (nee Troutman), with whom he celebrated 29 years of marriage on August 27, 2023.
At age 11 Donald and his family moved from Brooklyn to Paterson, New Jersey. While attending Public School # 5 in Paterson, an 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson, groomed Donald at an early age for success in his future business endeavors. She entered him in a national penmanship contest sponsored by the "Palmer Method" which Donald went on to win. She had him speak publicly and always had him memorize his speeches.
In 1958 he graduated from Eastside High School, in Paterson. He attended one semester of college at University of Kansas before transferring to Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey, where he earned his BS in accounting and his MBA, graduating magna cum laude in 1962. Later, Donald's Master's thesis was utilized by Harvard School of Business in its graduate courses.
Following college, Donald was hired as an accountant by "big eight" accounting firm Haskins and Sells in Manhattan, where he earned the "Rookie of the Year" award. From there he joined the Shulton Company, maker of Old Spice, as a salesman and won the Salesman of the Year award, establishing an annual sales record which has never been broken. He next ventured into the insurance business, joining Equitable Life Assurance of Lancaster, Pa where he worked his way up to Manager. Subsequently, Don became a sales associate for Consumers Life Insurance Co. of Camp Hill, PA. Consumers asked him to take over as Vice President of Sales, based primarily on his sale of their first $1Million policy.
Wanting to step out of corporate life, in 1984 Donald established his own company, D.C. Cappetta & Associates, specializing in financial and estate planning and life insurance. He helped set up the National Car Dealers' Association's estate planning program.
He would eventually expand into commercial real estate and land development. He completed the first IDA loan in Hershey, whereby Donald and his partner Edward Catalone purchased land and built the Golden Corral and Donuts Galore restaurant properties, where Fuddruckers and Smoked Bar and Grill now stand.
In 1992, Donald and a group of partners, in collaboration with Fred Schaeffer, built Indian Run, a neighborhood of 39 homes in Derry Township. In 1996, with a group of partners, Donald built Great Vacations of Hershey (now known as Bluegreen Suites) a successful time-share hotel on Hersheypark Drive-- a first for Hershey.
Very involved with his community, Donald served as chairman of Tri-County Easter Seals, chairman of Derry Township Sewer Authority, Derry Township Strategic Planning Committee, former treasurer Derry Township Republican Committee and many other organizations.
When not working, Don loved thoroughbred racing, golf, football, and traveling to his favorite vacation destination, Aruba. Very athletic, he won 6 long drive contests, MVP-Softball trophy- Fairleigh Dickinson Univ., and many bowling trophies in his younger days. His greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.
Don was a Veteran, having served 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.
In addition to his wife, Donald is survived by three children: son Glen Cappetta of Sarasota, Florida, and daughters Jennifer J. Cappetta, partner of Jerry Look, of Hershey and Pamela J. Cappetta, wife of Dr. L. Jon Brice of Las Vegas, Nevada; four granddaughters, Brooke and Jessie Gardner, Gigi Cappetta and Gaia Brice; a brother, A. Frank Cappetta, Lincoln Park, NJ; brothers and sisters-in-law: Myron and Kay Troutman, Rosene Ecenroad, JoAnn and Kevin Skovira, and many good friends including Rick Stoner and Conway and Carol Hammaker, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Donald was predeceased by his former wife and mother of his children, Joan Cappetta (nee Spinelli), sister-in-law April Cappetta and brother-in-law Garry Ecenroad.
Donald, a devout Christian, was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, Pa and was a devoted follower of Dr. Charles Stanley's InTouch Ministries. He was a patron of Grace Bible Class Church, Passaic, New Jersey, the church founded by his grandfather, the Rev. Rafael (Harry) Cappetta in 1950.
A memorial service will be held Friday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036, with a visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service. Interment will immediately follow at Hershey Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in Donald's honor may be made to: Friedens Lutheran Church, 301 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067; Celebration Community Church, 1048 S. Mountain Road, Dillsburg, Pa 17019; or Grace Bible Class Church, 54 Pine Street, Passaic, NJ 07055.
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trefzandbowser.com
Born January 13, 1941 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of the late Daniel D. Cappetta and Josephine Cappetta (nee Pernice).
Danny and Josie named their son Donato Clemente, later Americanized to "Donald."
Donald is survived by his wife, Brenda Cappetta (nee Troutman), with whom he celebrated 29 years of marriage on August 27, 2023.
At age 11 Donald and his family moved from Brooklyn to Paterson, New Jersey. While attending Public School # 5 in Paterson, an 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson, groomed Donald at an early age for success in his future business endeavors. She entered him in a national penmanship contest sponsored by the "Palmer Method" which Donald went on to win. She had him speak publicly and always had him memorize his speeches.
In 1958 he graduated from Eastside High School, in Paterson. He attended one semester of college at University of Kansas before transferring to Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey, where he earned his BS in accounting and his MBA, graduating magna cum laude in 1962. Later, Donald's Master's thesis was utilized by Harvard School of Business in its graduate courses.
Following college, Donald was hired as an accountant by "big eight" accounting firm Haskins and Sells in Manhattan, where he earned the "Rookie of the Year" award. From there he joined the Shulton Company, maker of Old Spice, as a salesman and won the Salesman of the Year award, establishing an annual sales record which has never been broken. He next ventured into the insurance business, joining Equitable Life Assurance of Lancaster, Pa where he worked his way up to Manager. Subsequently, Don became a sales associate for Consumers Life Insurance Co. of Camp Hill, PA. Consumers asked him to take over as Vice President of Sales, based primarily on his sale of their first $1Million policy.
Wanting to step out of corporate life, in 1984 Donald established his own company, D.C. Cappetta & Associates, specializing in financial and estate planning and life insurance. He helped set up the National Car Dealers' Association's estate planning program.
He would eventually expand into commercial real estate and land development. He completed the first IDA loan in Hershey, whereby Donald and his partner Edward Catalone purchased land and built the Golden Corral and Donuts Galore restaurant properties, where Fuddruckers and Smoked Bar and Grill now stand.
In 1992, Donald and a group of partners, in collaboration with Fred Schaeffer, built Indian Run, a neighborhood of 39 homes in Derry Township. In 1996, with a group of partners, Donald built Great Vacations of Hershey (now known as Bluegreen Suites) a successful time-share hotel on Hersheypark Drive-- a first for Hershey.
Very involved with his community, Donald served as chairman of Tri-County Easter Seals, chairman of Derry Township Sewer Authority, Derry Township Strategic Planning Committee, former treasurer Derry Township Republican Committee and many other organizations.
When not working, Don loved thoroughbred racing, golf, football, and traveling to his favorite vacation destination, Aruba. Very athletic, he won 6 long drive contests, MVP-Softball trophy- Fairleigh Dickinson Univ., and many bowling trophies in his younger days. His greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.
Don was a Veteran, having served 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.
In addition to his wife, Donald is survived by three children: son Glen Cappetta of Sarasota, Florida, and daughters Jennifer J. Cappetta, partner of Jerry Look, of Hershey and Pamela J. Cappetta, wife of Dr. L. Jon Brice of Las Vegas, Nevada; four granddaughters, Brooke and Jessie Gardner, Gigi Cappetta and Gaia Brice; a brother, A. Frank Cappetta, Lincoln Park, NJ; brothers and sisters-in-law: Myron and Kay Troutman, Rosene Ecenroad, JoAnn and Kevin Skovira, and many good friends including Rick Stoner and Conway and Carol Hammaker, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Donald was predeceased by his former wife and mother of his children, Joan Cappetta (nee Spinelli), sister-in-law April Cappetta and brother-in-law Garry Ecenroad.
Donald, a devout Christian, was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, Pa and was a devoted follower of Dr. Charles Stanley's InTouch Ministries. He was a patron of Grace Bible Class Church, Passaic, New Jersey, the church founded by his grandfather, the Rev. Rafael (Harry) Cappetta in 1950.
A memorial service will be held Friday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036, with a visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service. Interment will immediately follow at Hershey Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in Donald's honor may be made to: Friedens Lutheran Church, 301 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067; Celebration Community Church, 1048 S. Mountain Road, Dillsburg, Pa 17019; or Grace Bible Class Church, 54 Pine Street, Passaic, NJ 07055.
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trefzandbowser.com
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