Helmut Kapitza

Helmut Kapitza, age 91, born October 18, 1933-the same birthday shared with his beloved wife of 68 years, Hannelore-passed away peacefully on May 3rd at his home in Wayne, New Jersey, surrounded by his loving family.

Helmut was born in Hindenburg, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1956 with nothing but a suitcase and a down blanket. The hot weather in New York City tempted him to return home, but he pressed forward with unwavering determination to build a better life. Though he arrived not speaking the language, he persevered through hard work and resilience-eventually owning three homes and a six-family investment property, building a strong foundation for his family.

He began his career in New York City at Hartz Mountain, where he formed lifelong friendships with the Lange family that are carried on by his extended family. He later joined S.B. Thomas, where he worked until retirement, working his way up from the maintenance department to Senior Project Engineer, earning the respect and admiration of his colleagues. Throughout his entire working career, Helmut never took a sick day, a testament to his dedication and strong work ethic.

Helmut was the last surviving sibling, having been preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Werner, Edeltraut, Margot, Herbert, Gerhard, Maria, Ingeborg, Erwin, and Gisela. A proud German-American, he was a longtime member and past president of Germania Park in Dover, New Jersey, where he celebrated his heritage and contributed actively to the community.

He and his wife made their primary home in Wayne, New Jersey, but also enjoyed time at their summer residence in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, and their winter residence in Deerfield Beach, Florida, creating warm memories in every place they lived.

In addition to spending time with his family, Helmut loved caring for his homes and especially enjoyed using his Kubota tractor to gather wood and maintain the lawns, tending to his properties with pride and dedication. He was well known for his independent spirit and his remarkable ability to fix almost anything, tackling household and mechanical challenges with skill and determination. He also loved boating and water skiing on Lake Wallenpaupack and remained an avid snow skier well into his later years. He cherished watching his grandchildren grow up and took great joy in attending their life events, including graduations, school plays and performances, and dance recitals.

Helmut will be remembered for his unwavering work ethic, quiet dignity, and deep devotion to his family and friends, and how he tenderly cared for his wife even as his own health was failing.

He is survived by his wife, Hannelore, his son Frank, his daughter Julie and her husband John, and his cherished grandchildren, Alissa and Laci, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. His grandchildren were very proud of their Opa and cherish notes of inspiration he left for them. He also developed a strong bond with his caretaker, Iesha, who provided tender care during his last days.

A celebration of life for family and close friends will be held at Germania Park on June 28th.