Deacon James Robert DeCapite, a longtime deacon at St. Margaret in Bel Air and a visible figure in the local pro-life movement, died April 7 after a battle with cancer. He was 73.
Deacon DeCapite was well known in Harford County for his advocacy on behalf of unborn children. He organized St. Margaret’s annual baby bottle campaign to raise funds for pregnancy services and served for many years as treasurer of Birthright, a pregnancy resource center in Edgewood now called Choose Hope Women’s Center.
Deacon DeCapite also had been a bus captain for the annual January pilgrimage of St. Margaret parishioners to the national March for Life in Washington, D.C.
In 2014, he told the Catholic Review, “It’s a matter of standing up with people and walking to the (U.S.) Supreme Court (building) and making our statement in this country. The people who are involved, like ourselves and others, they still believe this is an important issue we can never back off of.”
Born in Cleveland, he attended the all-boys St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, where he was a talented athlete – 10 varsity letters in track, cross-country and bowling. He remained a devoted “Cleveland guy” despite his decades in Maryland.
“He rooted for the Indians (now the Guardians) and the Browns,” remembered Monsignor Kevin Schenning, pastor of St. Margaret. “Never for the Orioles or the Ravens.”
Deacon DeCapite was a graduate of the University of Dayton, where he met Marcie Lamb, his wife of 52 years.
They moved to Bel Air after a few years in Cleveland. In 1989, he opened an accounting firm, James R. DeCapite, which became DeCapite & DeCapite when his youngest son, Pete, joined the business.
Ordained in 2003, Deacon DeCapite served at St. Patrick in Havre de Grace until he was reassigned to St. Margaret in 2006.
He coached his four children in soccer, basketball and baseball; participated in the Carroll Valley Golf Tournament, where he was the 2009 champion; kept up his golf game even after losing an eye to cancer; and managed to attend any sports activity in which any of his grandchildren were participating.
Monsignor Schenning remembered Deacon DeCapite “running around, doing miles” well into his 60s. “He was a great advocate of sports.”
Following his cancer diagnosis, he found comfort in the motto of St. Padre Pio – “Pray, hope and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” He often incorporated that into his homilies.
His duties, which also included baptisms and witnessing marriages, kept him busy. St. Margaret, with about 4,300 registered families, is one of the largest parishes in the archdiocese. Deacon DeCapite was one of six deacons there.
Deacon Rob McCord said Deacon DeCapite was “an elder brother of the faith” who was “pretty constant.” He said Deacon DeCapite taught him to bring an open heart and to be nonjudgmental.
“He reminded me that we serve a God of mercy,” Deacon McCord said.
Despite his illness, Deacon DeCapite wanted to live as fully as he could, Deacon McCord said, “and I think he brought that to everything he did. Everyone treated him with utmost respect, because he never asked for it.”
“He really enjoyed the (St. Margaret) school Masses.” said Deacon Bruce Hultquist. “They adored him and he adored them. He looked forward to those.”
Deacon Hultquist also remembered how supportive Deacon DeCapite had been when he was newly ordained. “He was just a pillar of faith.”
In addition to his wife, he is survived by children Matt (Tara), Tim (Megan), Pete (Kristin), and Carrie (Mike), 11 grandchildren, sister Joan Horvath (Mike), brother Joe (Melissa) and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be offered at noon April 12 at St. Margaret.
This story was updated at 3 p.m. to correct the name of Deacon Rob McCord.
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