Eleanor Capin

Eleanor H. Capin NORFOLK - Eleanor Hoffman Capin quietly left us Sept. 13, 2008, just weeks before she was to celebrate her 90th birthday. She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel (Sonny) R. Capin. She is survived by her daughter, Suzy Dixon and husband Rick of Tampa Bay, Fla.; beloved grandson, J. Scott Adams and wife Monique; the joys of her life, great-granddaughters Griffin and Payton Adams of Virginia Beach; also surviving are nieces, nephews and cousins who will sorely miss the matriarch of the Hoffman family, as well as close friends who were as much a part of her family as any others. Born the youngest of seven children in Elizabeth, N.J., Eleanor grew up in New York City. As a hat model in her early 20s, she modeled the latest fashions for a young man from Norfolk who frequently traveled to New York on buying trips for Capin's, his family business. Soon, she and Sonny Capin were married, she moved to Norfolk and began a volunteer career that would initiate dynamic new organizations and attract people from all walks of life into her circle of cherished friends. From her earliest projects with the Needlework Guild of America and the Children's Art Center, she was the spearhead for the opening of the DePaul Hospital Gift Shop where she volunteered as chief buyer for many years. There she embraced the friendship of many of the Sisters of Charity who were the hospital administrators at that time, friendships that endured until her death. She also demonstrated her creative talents with her grand decorating for the early DePaul balls, from creating a mammoth chandelier to filling the ballroom with full size trees sparkling with miniature lights. As a close friend and deep admirer of Fred Heutte, the respected horticulturist responsible for the creation of the Norfolk Botanical Garden, Eleanor was the driving force behind the establishment of the Fred Heutte Horticultural Foundation and the Fred Heutte Center that is still in operation in the restored ferry terminal in the center of Ghent Square in Norfolk. In cooperation with the City of Norfolk, she served as the behind-the-scenes director of the center for many years until turning responsibilities over to the next generation. She also proudly served on the City of Norfolk's Bicentennial Commission, helping organize the city's celebration in 1976. A tragic family event motivated her to create the Amputee Support Group, a regional nonprofit organization whose mission it is to offer guidance and support to recent amputees and their families. This is but one example of her unwavering vision to create a lasting foundation of support, education and assistance to fulfill an unanswered need in her community. Throughout her life, she never hesitated to step up and instill in others the same dedication to a worthy cause, yet was always humble in accepting the grateful and genuine applause for her tireless efforts. A woman guided by her vision and absolute in her belief in the goodness of people, Eleanor's small size did little to minimize the mighty influence she could wield to advance her chosen cause. Some people come into our lives for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, never the same. Eleanor Capin was one of those special people. She was a strong independent woman who inspired all those she knew to be a better person and tell the people we love why we really love them. The family would especially like to thank Rita Marlier for her devoted friendship and daily visits to Eleanor over the past years as well as the many nurses and medical staff who cared for her as best they possibly could. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., 1501 Colonial Ave. in Ghent, at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Donations can be made to Norfolk Academy, an area school which she greatly respected, for an appropriate use in her honor to be determined in conjunction with school officials.