Robert M. Capello III

Laredo - "Robby's Legacy"

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

It is with inconsolable broken hearts and indescribable pain and grief that the Capello family announces the passing of our beloved and dearest son and grandson, Robert (Robby) M. Capello III on Friday, August 11, 2023 in Miami, Florida. He was only 34 years old, in the prime of his life. He is survived by his parents: Mary Guevara Capello of Laredo, and Robert M. Capello Jr. of McAllen; his sister, Crystal Guevara Behn of Las Vegas, Nevada; his brother, Christopher Allen Capello of Dallas; his grandparents, Coach Robert M. Capello, Sr. and Gloria Yarritu Capello of Elsa; his uncles, Richard A. Capello, Ronald J. Capello, and Randall M. Capello; his cousins, Alexander Capello, Casey Capello, and Nicholas Capello of Pharr, Gabriela Capello Cisneros, Giancarlo Capello, and Katrina Capello of Elsa, Giovanni Hugo Capello of San Antonio, and Vanessa Stumps Capello Kohlei of Germany. He is preceded in death by his loving grandmother, Eliza Cuellar Guevara of Laredo, and his great grandmothers, Julia V. Capello and Gabriela Salinas Yarritu both of Elsa, Tx. He was born on July 28, 1989 in Houston, Texas.

As a youngster, Robby spent summers, holidays, special family birthdays and many family cookouts in Elsa. He spent hours running, playing, climbing his tree house with his cousins. We called him "The Little General" because he devised and directed all the activities. He especially enjoyed attending his grandfather's basketball camps where he grew to love sports.

When he entered high school at Laredo United, he joined the football program as well as the basketball program. The skills he learned in Elsa paid off! His coaches commented to us that he was a, "born leader", and a, "go getter." He was a standout athlete in both football and basketball. This love of sports remained inside for the rest of his life.

He went on to graduate from UTSA with a business degree with emphasis in sports marketing. He set his eyes on several opportunities in the business world. He found his first opportunity in Los Angeles with Nike Company. He learned the retail shoe business from the ground up. His training was so successful that soon he was training and mentoring the new employees. The Nike bosses recommended a new assignment for Robby, an assistant managerial position in New York City. He loved his new job, but no so much the weather and traffic. Unfortunately, he contracted Covid 19 and came home to Laredo to recover. When he returned to New York, the Lord put him in the right place at the right time. Because he contracted Covid, Robby began a regimen of weight lifting, running, biking, and joined a fitness club named, Equinox. In doing so, as fate would have it, he met a top executive, a position opened and Robby was hired. He loved it. After, "learning the ropes," the company saw his potential and sent him to a failing club in Dallas, where they knew it needed a spark and someone who could meet the challenge.

Equinox is a world-wide company with fitness clubs all over the United States and Europe. This was the beginning of a fabulous rise in Robby's career. He applied his managerial skills, his charisma, all his bright light and positive ideas in order to turn this fitness club into the top retail grossing Equinox Fitness Club! The "General" was again in his element!

Because of all his and his staff's hard work and dedication, they achieved the goal. The Equinox executives were so impressed with his accomplishment they offered him a promotion in Miami to open a new club. This was a dream come true; he was a, "rising star." He was a shining star to all of us. Unfortunately, unknowing to him and us as well, the Lord had His own plan for Robby. After a brief, but ferocious illness, the medical staff in Miami could not save him.

On August, 13th, his mom received the following letter from the Equinox Management in NY:

Dear Mrs. Capello,

I don't even know where exactly to begin, except to say that I am so very sorry for your loss. The news of Rob's passing and the extreme events that have transpired over the past week, are beyond comprehension. I want you to know how extraordinary your son was, he was inspiration personified. Every person and thing he touched was better for having been in his presence. He was truly our departments golden guy; I learned this week that our NYC district manager team referred to him as Mr. Sunshine. He had the incredible ability to connect with anyone that he encountered and make them feel good. His motto within our organization was "make someone's day, every day", and boy did he live and breathe by those words.

I could go on and on about Rob, but the truth is there aren't enough kind words to explain what an impact he had on me, and our entire Equinox community. I want you to know that his legacy will live on within our organization. We will be renaming our top seller award the Robert Capello award in his honor (Deb suggested), will certainly be riding in his honor this coming year at Cycle for Survival.

Please let me know how we can support, and if I can do anything for you and your family. Your son will be deeply missed.

With love and respect, Annie ANNIE WALTERS VP OF RETAIL NEW YORK CITY, NY 10001

When he was a little boy, maybe 5 or 6 years old, Robby would say, "Mimom, you love me the best because I'm the first grandson, right?" I would say, "Oh my darling, I love all of you the same." He always replied, "Yes, but you loved me first because I'm your number one grandson! Remember, Mimom I'm number one." Robby will always be, "Number 1" in our hearts.

This is Robby's Legacy

The following is what Equinox Executives thought of Robby:

"Robby was extraordinary; he was inspiration personified." "Everyone was better for knowing him." "He was the department's, 'Golden Boy' and was called, 'Mr. Sunshine.' "He had an incredible gift to connect with people and make them feel good. Robby's motto was," Make someone's day better every day!" He also encouraged his staff by leading them in a cheer every morning before he opened for business. The cheer was, "Come On Everybody, Let's GOOOOO!" This is Robby's Legacy.

Yes, My Darling, You will always be the First One, and Number One!

Yes Mr Sunshne, shine your light on us, in the sunlight, in the stars, in the moon, in the sunrise in the sundown-Keep on shining, Robby.

"Oh in the sweet sunshower, In the sweet sweet sweet sunshower, I know all your graces someday will flower, In the sweet sweet sunshower" Chris Cornell Sunshower

Psalm 18:28 "Yea, Thou dost light my lamps; The Lord my God Lightens my darkness".