CAROLEE CAPOSSELA

Creative Director and lyricist Carolee "Cappy" Capossela died Thursday, October 17, 2002 of a brain tumor., following an eight month battle. She was 59. She was born in Tarrytown April 4, 1943 to Carmen and Josephine Zajicek Capossela. She attended Sleepy Hollow High School, where she finished near the top of her class and was very active in theatrical productions. She graduated with honors from Harpur College (now the State University of New York at Binghampton) in 1965. For 12 years, Cappy was creative director of the Coty account, developing fragrance concepts, names and marketing campaigns for such products as ! ex-cla-mation, ICI, Longing, Dark Vanilla, Celebrate, Avatar and Stetson County. In addition to being a copywriter, Cappy was also a lyricist and songwriter. Her first hit, "When the Heat Hits the Street," was recorded by Laura Branigan, and she co-wrote the theme song "A Million Children" for the NBC movie "A Place at the Table." In 1985, after helping a friend who was dying of cancer, she co-authored Share the Care: How to Organize a Group to Care for Someone Who Is Seriously Ill (Simon & Schuster). The book has become and essential tool for families and organizations around the world, including ALS, the American Cancer Society, and others. Over the past two years, Cappy devoted herself full time to writing Broadway musicals. Her first show, "Grail", a rock opera, is scheduled to be produced in London early next year, while her final project - "The Courtesan" - is currently in development. She is survived by her mother, Josephine, of Sleepy Hollow, a brother, Jim of Ossining, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Tarrytown area, and out of state. Visitors can call at the Coffey Funeral Home in Tarrytown on Sunday, October 20, from 2 pm to 4 pm and from 7 pm to 9 pm. A funeral mass for she and her father who predeceased her by less than a day, will be held at the Holy Cross Church in Sleepy Hollow at 10 am on October 21. Interment will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. In addition, there will be a memorial service for Cappy at the Player's Club, 16 Gramercy Park South, NYC, on Thursday, October 24 at 3:30 pm. In lieu of gifts or flowers, contributions can be made to the Share the Care Foundation by contacting Marc Bailin at 212-935-0900. COFFEY FUNERAL HOME, INC 91 North Broadway, Tarrytown (914)631-0983