Dec. 20--Below are letters written by Chicago firefighter Daniel Capuano's wife, Julie, and their three children that were read by fellow firefighters at his Friday funeral. Capuano, 43, died Monday morning when he fell into an open elevator shaft while battling a smoky blaze in a Southeast Side warehouse.
City Building Department officials said the building's owners did not have proper permits and the removal of the elevator was unauthorized. Court filings call the building "an immediate and ongoing threat of irreparable harm" to the public, and his wife has filed a lawsuit against the building's owner.
Julie Capuano:
"Well Dan, I never in a million years thought I'd be writing this to you. We're supposed to be on a beach in Florida right now, enjoying a drink under a tent by the ocean, spending time together. We were going to relax and enjoy each other without any stress for about six days and then come home and celebrate Christmas together.
Instead I'm here with you, but definitely not in the way I want to be. We've been married for 20 years and I wanted to be with you for a hundred more years. We met before we were even able to drink, at least legally. We got married at the age of 22 and thought it would be smart to move into a house right away, even though neither of us had ever lived away from our parents.
That would probably explain why we tried to cut the spine out of a turkey at Thanksgiving because we thought it was the turkey's neck. Apparently the neck was inside the turkey already cut, but who knew? That would also explain why, while trimming bushes, you cut the electrical cord and knocked out power to the entire house. Remember when you thought I was going to cut your chicken off the bone for you because that's the way your mother used to fix it for you at home? Or how we would debate about how to fold the laundry or which way the toilet paper roll should face? I still say I'm right about that.
We have such great memories, Dan, but I would give anything in the world to have you back so we could make lots more. We have three beautiful, intelligent and talented children together. It breaks my heart into a million pieces to know you will never get to walk Amanda down the aisle or sit with me while we watch Andrew and Nick play hockey.
I'm broken inside by losing you Dan. I'm just not sure what I'm going to do. I will miss your hands and face, your funny sense of humor, your loving touch, your kisses and our conversations together. I will miss everything that our lives were together. You were my rock, my strength, my everything. You were my first true love and you will always be my love. You were my amazing husband, my best friend, loving father and a dedicated firefighter. You were everything to me, and I will love you always and forever.
Amanda, 16:
My first memory of my dad was sitting on his knee in the Evergreen Park firehouse with a bag of popcorn. It was a sunny day. I was probably only three years old. I can't remember why I was there or what was going on. All I can remember is taking a photo with him.
My next memory was being seven at the Great Bear Lodge and swimming with him in the lazy river. I thought it would be funny to try to swim away from him. I got maybe ten feet when two older girls knocked me from my inner tube. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't swim. I was caught up in the current of the lazy river, which is pretty strong for someone who just got out of floaties. The next thing I remember, my dad grabbed me out of the water. My dad was someone who was always there for us.
Back in 8th grade, during the blizzard, he took the train down to see me compete at state. We'd gotten snowed in at the Hilton and he wanted to get on the road before everybody else. I forgot my coat in the hallway and my dad made me wrap towels around my shoulders so I didn't freeze. He tried to give me his coat. When we dropped him off at the train station to head home, his first thought was to call my mom to warn her of black ice.
Back in 8th grade I dislocated my knee and dad was at the firehouse. But when he got a chance, he took the car so he could see me as soon as he could. That's just how my dad was. He put everyone before himself. For my sweet 16 birthday, he went to Mariano's and got a cake for me. It was strawberry with icing that said, "Happy 16th Birthday Amanda."
Last Thursday, my dad picked me up. It was just him and me because mom was at work and the boys were at school. It was 1:40. We had a whole hour to ourselves before Nick and Andrew got out of school. We hid the Christmas presents, and we picked some really good hiding spots.
That was the last time I really got to spend time with him was that Friday. I was going to a chorus concert for rehearsal. By the time I got out it was late. He told me he would pick me up and he was very upset with me because I was waiting alone in the dark by the St. Xavier's softball fields. He was upset because he loved me. He didn't think it was safe for me to be alone.
I went to a St. Rita hockey game that night, and he was going to go with me, but went to a hockey party with friends. He was going to give me money for ice cream with my friends after the game, but in the chaos of that night, that did not happen.
I saw him for about five minutes on Saturday. In the morning, I ran out the door to a banquet. My mom picked me up and took me straight to geometry tutoring. I came home to a hot dog and fries that he had left for me.
That night, I went to my grandma's to make Christmas cookies while my parents went to the fireman's ball. They had such a good night. It was very late when they had gotten home. His last words to tell me were to go to bed.
I didn't talk to him on Sunday. I will never get over that. I wish I had one more phone call with him just so I could say goodbye. I wish he could see how many people came out to support us. I wish you could see how many people love you, daddy.
Andrew, 13:
My dad was a great dad, husband, brother, godfather, son and role model. I really look up to my dad. He would teach me how to do things like cook, mow the lawn, clip the lawn, be a gentleman and put others first, and be the best I could be. He was loving, kind, fun, respectable.
I remember when I'd be on the ice he would do funny motions with his hands to show when to check our opponent. He cared about his family. My dad would get us kid stuff we wanted and worked extra shifts so we could go to Catholic schools. He would always say to me "Someday when I'm gone, you'll be the man of the house, and I want you to take care of your mother, brother and sister."
I would always respond, "Yes I will, because you taught me everything I will need."
He would then pat me on the back and say, "That's a good young man."
I always wanted to be like him. I want my confirmation name to be after his middle name and his grandfather's name, and I will have his name in mine: Andrew Daniel Vincent Capuano.
Nick, 12:
First of all, my dad was the best guy I knew. The main thing that means to me is that he cares for me and my family because he gives us a lot of love and he gives me and us a roof over our head. He also has food on the table and sends me to a Catholic school because he loves me.
He saves a lot of people who he doesn't know. Another thing that my dad used to do is be a hard worker. He always did a lot of jobs and chores. I feel like he takes after my grandpa. His name's Mike. Mike takes care of his siblings after his mother died.
Dad took us places such as Mexico, Punta Cana, Canada, Florida, many other places. He loved watching me play hockey.
He was a well-liked man. He really loves Paco the dog. Dad really loves my mom -- Julie -- Andrew, Amanda, Paco, friends and family, the Chicago Fire Department and the Evergreen Fire Department.
Chicago Tribune's John Byrne and Angie Leventis Lourgos contributed.
