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The “Nicest Judge in the World,” Judge Frank Caprio passed away on August 20, 2025, following a brave battle with pancreatic cancer .


Frank Caprio was a family man through and through. He was married to his ever-supportive wife, Joyce, for over six decades. Together, they raised five kids—Frank T., David, Marissa, John, and Paul—and had a bustling household of seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His loved ones described him as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, and after his passing, they said his “warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him”.


Humble beginnings & education

Born November 24, 1936, in the Italian-American cooking-up-neighbors Federal Hill in Providence, Rhode Island, Frank was the middle of three sons. His dad, Antonio, emigrated from Teano, Italy, and worked as a fruit peddler and milkman; his mother, Filomena, had roots in Naples.


Frank’s hustle started early—working as a dishwasher and shoe-shiner while attending Central High School, where he even snagged the state wrestling championship in 1953. After high school, he earned a BA from Providence College in 1958, then taught American government at Hope High School—all while attending night classes at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. He also served in the Rhode Island Army National Guard from 1954 to 1962, in a combat engineer battalion.


Frank started his civic journey on the Providence City Council from 1962 to 1968. After a stint practising law and engaging in politics, he became Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court in 1985—and held that role with grace and kindness until retiring around 2023.


On-screen life: Caught in Providence

His courtroom charm went viral—literally. Clips of compassionate rulings from his show Caught in Providence have more than a billion views across the web. From light-hearted moments like calling kids to help decide on parking fines (with pancake breakfast conditions, naturally), to tear-jerking ones like forgiving a grieving mother’s $400 in fines—you felt humanity in every clip. The show even earned multiple Daytime Emmy nominations.


Net worth, Salary


Let’s be real—net worth estimates vary and sometimes exaggerate. One source from 2021 estimated his net worth around $13 million, mostly from his judicial salary and modest living. Another put it closer to $1 million, mentioning multiple homes across Miami, West Palm Beach, and Providence—but take that with a grain of salt.


Giving back, always

He wasn’t just kind in court—he gave back in big ways. Frank created scholarships in his father’s name at Providence College, Suffolk Law School, and his own high school to help students from underserved Rhode Island neighborhoods access legal careers. After retiring, Providence named his courtroom The Chief Judge Frank Caprio Courtroom—a fitting tribute.


Whether you knew him from YouTube, Providence, or through distant headlines you felt the goodwill. He didn’t just mete out justice with a gavel; he did it with a wink and a whole lot of heart.