Jonathon Mark Capricci

“Rounding third and headed for home, is a brown-eyed handsome man…”

From “Centre Field” by John Fogerty

Jon’s life ended with an accidental carfentinyl drug overdose on September 3rd, 2025. Two months short of his 50th birthday.

Jon leaves behind his son, Kyle Naugle, 23 years old. He loved Kyle so much and his greatest wish-come-true was having Kyle in his life. You can see the joy in theirs faces, when they were on the Flume ride at the PNE in the photo below.

Jon also leaves behind his brother Tim Capricci, aged 48 years old, who’s first name for Jon was “Digger”. He called him that as soon as he could talk. Mom still called him Digger, now and then. Tim (2 years old) and Jon (4 years old) can be seen in the photo below.

Jon also leaves behind, his niece, Tim’s daughter Adriana (15 years old), who held a special place in Uncle Jon’s heart. He always asked about her and was proud of her every achievement.

Jon is also survived also by his parents Laurie and Wynn Capricci, many Aunts and Uncles, cousins, friends and acquaintances. He is predeceased by his grandparents, Rae and Alice Schan and Louis and Doreen Capricci.

Jon was a very intelligent young man. He was tested as a child and found to be in the top 2% for his age range. In high school, after similar testing, we remember a high school math teacher telling us that Jon could be teaching the class! He was easily able to grasp complex mathematical concepts that were equivalent to 2nd year University level when he was in Grade 11.

Jon always marched to a different drummer. He was out-of-step with the mainstream of life. His life was a struggle. He could be argumentative and hard. But he was good underneath it all. He meant well and he loved fiercely. He always loved kids, and he said many times that was because he was still a kid himself.

Jon was good at anything he tried… trumpet, basketball, baseball, Tyke football (Thunder Bay), piano, running, swimming, sales, and of course, roofing.

Jon has laid down his roofing tools a final time, not knowing he would never use them again. We will miss the various photographs he took, many from rooftops, with a view of the Pacific Ocean. Jon was a roofer for 18+ years. He specialized in Cedar shakes although he has done most every kind of roofing available.

Jon lays to rest his 1987 Ford F150 truck. He loved that truck, even as he cursed it!

His favourite activity (by a mile) was baseball. From his T-ball days in the Balsam Pit (Thunder Bay) to a grand-slam home run in the BC Games, to watching the Blue Jays and the Yankees, he loved baseball.

One memory we have of Jon, long before he played T-Ball, he had his own glove and baseball. He would spend hours in Balsam Pit, throwing the ball straight up in the air, as far he could and as hard as he could, then catching it. He was 5 years old.

Jon also had very little fear – of anything. He was a roofer and often he was high up on a roof of a 3-story house. Some of the views were breath-taking. But Jon was known to “forget” his safety harness.

When Jon was barely 4 years old, Mom took him and his brother swimming. Mom fastened Jon’s water wings and then turned to Tim to fasten his. Jon took off at a dead run, straight toward the pool…. Mom tried to catch him, but she was too slow! He ran straight into the deep end of the pool and was submerged… then he popped up and continued running, in the water, buoyed by the water wings. He looked like a boat motor, running amok, as fast as he could around and around the pool. There was no fear, just a smile of pure joy at being in the pool.

Several years later, again at a pool, the boys were swimming on their own, as was Mom. Mom got this funny feeling when she couldn’t spot them anywhere close by. She looked up, way, way up, and there was Jon on the highest diving board. Tim was right behind him! It looked to be about 100’ in height!

He is just at the top of the stairs…he does not hesitate. He runs down the diving board and plunges, feet first, into the pool. He was 8 years old. Then Tim jumped right after him. It was heart stopping – then they bobbed up with huge smiles on their faces. The diving boards (especially the high one) were out-of-bounds to young children. He was probably told that but, being the absent-minded professor that he was, he “forgot”.

When he decided he would do something, he did it. No hesitation, no fear, no concern for Mom having a heart attack!!

Bottom of the Ninth, Two out

by Jon Capricci June 1989

The batsman moved slowly to the plate

As he took his position opposite the pitcher

A million thoughts raced through his mind

I could win the game

I could look like a fool

What will he throw?

The pitcher, glaring at the batter, went through

The traditional wind-up motions that have been

Part of baseball for many years

Sent a ball flying toward and then past

The batter’s nervous body

A strike.

The batter, in a state of pure hysteria

Held his emotions toward the umpire’s call

And began concentrating again

The pitcher delivered the ball

The batter, ready this time,

Unleashed all of his surpressed fury from

His soul into his wrists, swung the bat

Viciously toward the ball

Yet he missed

Another strike.

The batter, now in a state of fear

And hopelessness, faced the pitcher for the third time

He closed his eyes and swung mightily

He made contact!

The ball sailed toward the outfield

The fans rose, the batter’s heart lifted,

Back, way back, to the wall….