Capeless, Former Pittsfield Mayor, Dies at 91
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Former Pittsfield Mayor Robert T. Capeless, 91, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008, at his home. The prominent Massachusetts attorney was the father of Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless.One of the city's youngest leaders, he was elected mayor in 1947 at age 29 and spearheaded the expansion of the city's school system and advocated for better public and affordable housing and broader taxing power for towns and cities. In 2002, Highland Elementary School was renamed in Robert T. Capeless School in his honor. Mr. Capeless attended the ceremony and shook the hand of every pupil.
Born in Pittsfield on Dec. 1, 1917, to former City Councilor and state Rep. Matthew J. Capeless and Katherine Fitzgerald Capeless,attended the former St. Charles' Grammar School and graduated from St. Joseph's High School in 1935. He attended Tufts College for two years before entering Boston College Law School in 1938, graduating in June three years later at the head of his class. He was admitted to the bar in December 1941, but World War II would delay his law career.
He enlisted in the Navy the following month and commanded a 120-foot LCT (landing craft, tank) in the Pacific. He and his six-man crew participated in amphibious actions in the Russell Islands and at Guadalcanal. In January 1945, he commanded a fleet of 18 LCTs, supporting the invasion of Iwo Jima, and was anchored at the foot of Mount Suribachi when the flag was raised by the Marines. He was cited for his outstanding leadership in the assault.
Mr. Capeless returned to Pittsfield after the war and joined the law firm of Cain & Lewis. In the preliminary election for mayor in 1947, he was unable to cast a vote for himself because he was in Washington, D.C., arguing before the Supreme Court, alongside his partner, Lincoln Cain. The case, on divorce suits, is still cited in law school texts.
He was elected to four terms, running for the last two unopposed. During his tenure, both middle schools and three elementary schools were constructed.
After eight years as mayor, Mr. Capeless was employed as manager of community relations in Pittsfield for the former General Electric for two years and then state tax commissoner by Gov. Foster Furcolo in 1959. He served four years as commissioner under Gov. Furcolo and Gov. Endicott "Chub" Peabody.
In 1962, Mr. Capeless joined his cousin and Pittsfield native Thomas M. Joyce in a law practice in Boston that eventually became the firm of Joyce, Capeless, Kilroy, McNulty & Roddy. He retired from the practice of law in 1987, at the age of 70.
He and his wife, the former Anita O'Conor Tomardy, were married May 25, 1946.
The couple moved to Newtown in 1959 and returned to Pittsfield in 2003 to be near their four children who had returned to the area.
Besides his wife and his son, of West Stockbridge, Mr. Capeless a daughter, Victile Donahue of Pittsfield; three other sons, Robert Capeless Jr. of Becket, Mark Capeless of Burlington, Vt., Stephen Capeless of Pittsfield and Christopher Capeless of Tallahassee, Fla.; a sister, Leona Capeless of New York City; a sister-in-law, Alice Capeless of Pittsfield; two nephews, Matthew Capeless III of Pittsfield and Edward Capeless of Adams; 10 grandchildren, Paul Donahue Jr., Katherine Donahue, Ian Donahue, Kristine Capeless, Mark Capeless Jr., Meghan Capeless, Emily Capeless, Michael Capeless, Charles Capeless and Samuel Capeless, and six great-grandchildren, Patrick Donahue, Christopher Donahue, Lucy Donahue, Michael Donahue, Meghan Donahue and Brian Donahue.
Mr. Capeless was predeceased by two sisters, Mary and Kathleen, and by a brother, Matthew Capeless Jr., all of Pittsfield.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Services for Mr. Capeless will be held Tuesday morning, Dec. 30, at 9 from Dwyer Funeral Home in Pittsfield, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 at St. Charles' Church by the Rev. Peter A. Gregory, pastor. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Monday, Dec. 29, from 4 to 7 at the funeral home.
