Shepherding the Upper Peninsula: A Remembrance of The Life Of Monsignor Louis Cappo

By Russell Magnaghi, Leigh Barry and Anders Gillis

This monograph, dealing with the life of Monsignor Louis Cappo (1919-2007) is a collection of oral interviews and statements made by individuals in the Upper Peninsula. It shows the varied religious and secular activities of this Catholic clergyman.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257692828

Book preview

2009

Introduction

December 10, 2007, saw something of the end of an era in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Monsignor Louis Cappo, who had served as rector to St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette, Mich., since 1975, passed away after a very brief illness, just days shy of his 88th birthday. He was well-known throughout the region as a spiritual and community leader, a champion of the Upper Peninsula’s economic development. Msgr. Cappo’s dedication to his faith, his family, his friends and the parishioners he served is legendary in the region. How far-reaching was his influence? He counted those from a variety of religions, both sides of the political fence and from a wide-array of backgrounds as friends. His opinion on topics relating to the Upper Peninsula’s growth, development and community needs was sought often and regarded highly. To say he was important is an understatement. He was essential in so many ways. His friends, family and colleagues have been eager to share their thoughts and reminiscences. Whether one knew him well or only in passing, two thoughts have become almost universal—that Msgr. Cappo was at heart a talented diplomat, a good friend and a loving family man, and that he will be sincerely missed by all.

In a written statement, former Northern Michigan University President William E. Vandement said:

Msgr. Cappo lived a life of extraordinary commitment to the Upper Peninsula community as well as to his clerical responsibilities. I was told even before my arrival as the Northern Michigan University president in 1991 that he could be counted on as an invaluable ally for the Unisversity and its constituencies. Indeed, his presence was felt wherever I turned—at community and university events. He was a devoted fan of the NMU hockey team and I recall many dinners that he generously hosted for that team to assure our young players that they belonged in Marquette and were valued. He worked tirelessly to improve the Upper Peninsula health care system as a member of the hospital board, and with his calm manner, helped it weather times of controversy to become a beacon of expertise and hope that is rare for a sparsely populated area.

In particular, I recall the events of 1993 when the imminent closure of the K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base was announced by the federal government. He responded immediately by galvanizing community leaders to join in planning for its future use and ensuring that the government would assist community efforts. He appeared at my office within a day of the announcement and—in the blink of an eye—I found myself agreeing to use University offices as temporary headquarters for the conversion effort—and let our talented Tom Peters serve as a new jobs coalition temporary director. I dread thinking what the prospects of the conversion efforts would have been without Father (as we knew him then) Cappo’s persuasive efforts. He will be sorely missed. With a kind word and understanding manner, he suffered both the wise and the foolish with grace.

Chapter I

Family Makes the Man

Monsignor Louis C. Cappo was born into an Italian-American family in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I was born and raised in the Copper Country in the town of Baltic, Michigan, and my parents were both from Italy, Cappo stated in a 1997 interview¹. They both came over here as single young persons, and then met here, and married. Msgr. Cappo’s mother, Giovanna (Jennie) Cappo, recalled what lead her family to the Upper Peninsula in a 1982 interview². I’m from Piedmont, Italy…[My] father decided to better himself, so he came to America, five years prior to my mother. When asked why her father decided to come, she answered, For no reason at all. Continuing, she explained, He had heard about America, and he had friends that were here who wrote to him and told him that he could earn two dollars a day…and he thought that was great. Giovanna Cappo’s father left Italy and came to the town of Baltic, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to work in the mines. It was a while before the rest of the family joined him. After five years, he sent for my mother, my sister, my brother and I, she recalled.

Life in the far-reaches of the Upper Peninsula was much different from the way things had been in Italy. The first impression was from the food that they had put on the table. I asked my father, ‘Is this a Saint Day?’ Mrs. Cappo went on to explain the significance of Saint Days, In Italy, we do not celebrate birthdays, we celebrate a Saint Day. These Saint Days are celebrated much like a birthday, but take place on the feast day of the saint with whom an individual shares his or her name. If your name is Joseph (Giuseppe), you celebrate on St. Joseph’s Day, she further explained. But the food on the table was not the only difference. The climate itself was a big change. "When we left Italy on the 15th