James Cappos' Obituary
Native San Diegan, resident of Chula Vista and Rancho Santa Fe, passed away in his sleep Sunday December 30, 2018 at 93 years of age. A son of Angelo and Martha Cappos of San Diego and originally Greece; pre-deceased by wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Balaban Cappos.James, also known by friends and family as “Duke”, was born in San Diego and moved to the family produce farm in Chula Vista full time after the death of his mother when he was nine years old. He and his future bride Elizabeth built their future home there together while they were engaged, then married, moved in and lived there for 40 years, raising three children. In 1989 they began building their second home in Rancho Santa Fe to be closer to friends and the founding of their new church.Always the classic entrepreneur, he had many “careers”, starting with his own trenching company where he dug the foundations for 10,000 San Diego homes and 387,000 lineal feet at Camp Pendleton. Most of his years were spent as a Rayne Water Conditioning dealer, but during that time he also co-owned Poole Boat Company that built aluminum sport-fishing yachts, co-owned a tungsten mine, and developed real estate; becoming a landlord – a career he never retired from. Always anxious to build things, after retiring from Rayne, he was excited to join Gus Pappas and Danny Ranglos (“CPR”) on a daily basis to secure the land, permitting, and building of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Senior Center and Housing. It was a multi-year undertaking, but the “Three Musketeers” enjoyed it enormously, “doing CPR” as our family called it.Having attended SDSU only until he met Liz, being married to her was his biggest joy, and he was forever after by her side, proud to be her constant cheerleader and willing to do anything she dreamed to make her happy. He also adopted her parents as his own, building her family a large home on the cliff of Mission Hills, and doing everything for his mother-in-law Stassa Balaban as if she was his own mother.He loved cars and driving them, which he did from age 9 to 89, having been only the 1045th person issued a drivers license in the State. His favorite car was his 1967 Corvette Stingray that he bought new and put 800 miles on in the first week, and a car he never sold. There wasn’t a vehicle he couldn’t drive – tractors, trailers, boats, and dune buggies, and large RVs towing them all and exploring new places.He was a gentle giant, kind and loving to all, proudly supporting his children and church until the end. The last of the Cappos siblings, James is survived by children Steven, Cliff, and Julianne; grandchildren Jaron and Stassa, and numerous sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church Building Fund. Trisagion Services Wednesday January 9th, 7:00PM, funeral services Thursday January 10th, 11:00AM, both at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007.
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