James Richard Cappelletti, Sr. Born December 7th, 1933 – May 2, 2019
A caring, giving, and loving father who was devoted and selfless to his family, friends, colleagues, students, and teams. He was hard working, rarely taking a day off from work, where he spent 45 years in the CH-UH District as a teacher and head basketball coach for the Cleveland Hts Tigers, winning 539 games in his coaching career, and leading the Tigers to the State Final Four six times (1975, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003), the finals twice (1975 and 1995), and winning the Division I State Championship in 1997 when he was named Ohio Coach of the Year. Coach Cap’s teams also won the Lake Erie League title 11 times. He was inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011. The Cleveland Heights High gymnasium now reads “Cappelletti Court” insignia on each of the baselines. He is survived by his children, Sharon Mahoney, Kathryn Cappelletti and Jim Cappelletti, Jr., his grandchildren, Mikel Mahoney, Jr., Jennifer Mahoney, Matthew Mahoney-White, Mia Milosevic and Carly Milosevic. Son in law Sasa Milosevic, Brother Don Craig, Sister, Judy Clark and former wife of 50 years, Nancy Fleming.
Services Pending.