In Memoriam: James Capozzola (1962-2007)
I’m saddened to learn that Jim Capozzola, of the Rittenhouse Review, died last evening.
Susie Madrak of Suburban Guerrilla, who calls Jim her “fairy blogfather,” knew Jim better than I did, and has posted a wonderful remembrance of him which includes links to many posts commemorating Jim’s life. And my pal Richard Cranium, of The All Spin Zone, has done a wonderful job of describing the man I knew:
Deadpan is one word I could use. Intelligent to a fault. Angst ridden. Passionate. Searching. Always reading something. Jimmy was a guy who had been through the worst that life could throw at him, but still maintained a finely-honed sense of humor.
Jim was, as Susie notes, a founding member of the liberal blogosphere, and a central figure in the Philadelphia scene. I always enjoyed seeing him at Philadelphia’s Drinking Liberally. He was, in fact, one of the first people I met there in late 2004, and I’ll always remember the generous words of advice that he gave me.
In addition to running the Rittenhouse Review, Jim started TRR: The Lighter Side of the Rittenhouse, which did for Philadelphia what The New York Times’ Metropolitan Diary did for New York.
Jim is survived by his family, by Mildred (the bulldog that he loved), and by a multitude of fellow bloggers and readers who mourn the loss of his distinctively pithy and sardonic voice. May he rest in peace.
