Donald J. DeCapua

1951 - 2013

Donald J. DeCapua, 62, passed away December 19, 2013 at Hartford Hospital after a long and valiant battle with dementia and traumatic brain injury. Don was born March 14, 1951, the son of Catello V. DiCapua and Marjorie (Allison) DiCapua. He grew up in East Hartford, CT and attended East Hartford schools. Don is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Alice, with whom he was deeply in love. They had a 28 year long love affair that very few are fortunate enough to have. Don is also survived by his daughter, Kellie DeCapua, who he was very proud of. Don and Kellie shared a passionate, undying love for motorcycles, long distance rides, adventure and a twisted sense of humor. He leaves behind his only grandchild, Danielle Gacek, whom he absolutely adored since the day she was born, and who he used to spoil a great deal. Donald was a very hard worker, starting out working in sheet metal and then moved on to construction sales, but his drive would not let him stop there. He had innovative and creative ideas which drove him to create a niche for himself as owner of Performance Technology, LLC, a manufacturer's representative company, where he sold vibration isolation products and seismic restraint material to mechanical and plumbing contractors in the large commercial and industrial construction segment. Donald was very proud of his company and truly enjoyed the work he did and treasured the people he met along the way. He lived life to the fullest, always relishing the adventures he created. Donald was a very avid motorcyclist, and always proud of the amount of miles he could put on the odometer. Donald loved his Harley Davidson motorcycles. One of Don's fondest motorcycle memories is the trip he took to Milwaukee for Harley Davidson's 85th Anniversary, with his beloved wife Alice riding on the back. Another of his fondest memories is the cross-country trip he made riding with his daughter, Kellie, to Sturgis, SD in 2007. Don also rode to and from Black Diamond Ranch in Florida, where he and Alice owned a home, to leave his motorcycle there for the winters, so he could ride it when he was there. He was a dedicated and enthusiastic golfer and a long time member of Ellington Ridge Country Club, where he made many friends for life. Don strived for excellence no matter what the activity, and he had a strong competitive streak. He will be missed by many. Besides his wife, daughter and granddaughter, Donald also leaves behind his sister Barbara DeCapua Colletti and her husband Thomas N. Colletti of Manchester, CT; his brother Victor DeCapua and his wife Susan DeCapua of East Windsor, CT; his brother Wayne DeCapua; his brother Michael DeCapua of Alaska. He also leaves many nieces, nephews and beloved friends to mourn his passing. A Celebration of Donald's Life will be held Saturday January 4, 2013 at Samsel Carmon Funeral Home; 419 Buckland Rd, South Windsor, CT. Calling hours are 12 pm to 2pm, with a service at 2pm to celebrate Don's life. Immediately following the service, a true celebration in Donald's preferred style will be held at Ellington Ridge Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut. http://biact.homestead.com/. For online condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.