Politics & Government

Seaford Street Dedicated in Memory of Slain ATF Agent

Ceremony brings out hundreds to childhood neighborhood of John Capano

John Capano was honored across the street from his childhood home Saturday morning just blocks from where he put his life on the line for others during a in Seaford.

Saturday’s street dedication for Capano at the intersection of Seamans Neck Road and Waverly Avenue in Seaford brought out more than 100 close friends, family members, elected officials and law enforcement to the quiet neighborhood. A sign was unveiled at the intersection that is across from where Capano’s father Jim still resides that reads “Senior Special Agent John Capano Ave.”

The ceremony occurred just a little more than a half year after Capano, a Seaford High School graduare and Massapequa resident, attempted to prevent an armed robbery at Charlie's Family Pharmacy on Merrick Road.

“Although we lived in Massapequa, this is where John’s roots are and this is where a lot of his family still lives so it is very meaningful to have the street sign right outside of the home he grew up,” said Capano’s widow, Dori Capano. “As I look at this crowd of family and friends, neighbors, town residents, I am again reminded of the impact that John’s death had on this community and on all of us here and more importantly on the impact his life had on all of us here.”

Capano served 23 years as an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and was a member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association as well as the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators. His service in the ATF included teaching U.S. military and local forces in Afghanistan and Iraq how to investigate blasts. On the Fourth of July, the Town of Oyster Bay in Capano’s memory near his family's Massapequa home.  __________________________________________________________________________________ Interested in Wantagh-Seaford news, events, community bulletins, blogs and businesses? Sign up for the free Wantagh-Seaford Patch daily newsletter. ___________________________________________________________
Saturday’s street dedication brought out many of Capano’s classmates and friends from , where he graduated in 1978, including Joe Benenati, who made the trip that morning from his home in Fairfield, Conn. Benenati recalled getting to know Capano while being a member of Boy Scout Troop 263, which met at the .

“To see a crowd like this speaks not only of John but this whole community,” Benenati said. “There is that bond that is so typical of Seaford.”

Saturday’s street dedication ceremony was organized by the Town of Hempstead and featured remarks from Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Councilwoman Angie Cullin, R-Freeport and Joseph Anarumo, the Bureau' of ATF’s special agent in charge of the New York field division. The Nassau County Police Reserves Bagpipe Band closed the dedication with the song “going home.”

“What John did on the day he died is what he lived; putting himself on the line for his neighbors and his friends,” said Rep. Peter King,R-Seaford, whose wife Rosemary, taught Capano at the former Seaford Avenue School. “He was truly heroic and he stands for the very best of America.”

“John truly made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the lives of our residents,” Murray said. “It is only appropriate that we name the street on which he grew up in honor of this courageous man who gave his life protecting the lives of others.” 


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