Roy Mario Capio

Mario “Roy” Capio, born July 30, 1951, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on May 08, 2026, following a tragic fall at his home in Bloomington, Indiana. He died outdoors, in a home he loved, surrounded by nature. His final moments spent as he loved to live-—at work, on his home, in the forested landscape.

Roy was raised in Bergen County, New Jersey, and in 1973 graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A gifted and passionate athlete, he was an agile hard court and table tennis player during his academic years, and later in life, a dedicated runner. He remained in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he welcomed his children Andrea, Michele, and Michael before moving to Bloomington, Indiana.

Entrepreneurial and self-reliant, Roy built a career on his own terms. He was regularly named Broker of the Year throughout his tenure with American Pro Mar Company, a business he founded. His success resulted from his rigorous work ethic and fastidiousness (he was unrelenting with the fine print), but also his unique sense of humor and unwavering loyalty.

Roy was exceedingly industrious. He found joy and purpose in daily physical work, spending hours chopping wood and crafting various expressions of “yard art.” He valued endurance over strength. He was known to quote Rocky Balboa. “It ain’t about how hard you hit,” he would say. “It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

In 2012, he married Jonna Marie Capio, with whom he shared Molly, a cherished German Sheperd Terrier mix and a home that celebrated the wooded landscape that surrounds it. Together, Roy and Jonna loved contributing to their neighborhood and community, particularly with their church, Unity of Bloomington, where they met. Roy served on Unity’s board for seven years, four of them as treasurer. He described his work there as “keeping the belief that all the abundance already exists but may not yet be apparent.” In his years of retirement, he championed environmental causes and volunteered regularly for the community kitchen, meals on wheels, and the local hospital.

Above all, Roy found solace and meaning in nature. It shaped his form of life and his ethic. Throughout his life, one could reliably find him walking in the woods, enjoying a campfire, or positioned against Lake Michigan’s shoreline, taking in the sunset under washes of color. His life could be summarized by listing the landscapes he passed through— Stony Lake, Lake Michigan beaches, Empire, Glen Arbor, Sycamore Land Trust, and his own cherished acreage—walking quietly, looking with tenderness.

"It is our habit to think outdoors - walking...preferably [among trees], or near the [lake] where even the trails become thoughtful."

Roy loved his life in Bloomington, where he spent his time grilling, walking, biking, and overseeing road association repairs and helping neighbors. He was a devoted caregiver to Molly and an experienced traveler who cherished showing Jonna his favorite spots in Michigan and Europe. To Jonna, Roy was a loyal, handsome, funny, and generous spouse—her best friend and her “Michigan Man.”

A treasured husband, father, step-father, and grandfather, Roy is survived by his wife Jonna Marie; his children Andrea Capio, Michele Capio, Michael Capio, and Zachary Risher, his five grandchildren Claire Lutz, Olivia Collins, Samuel Lutz, Sydney Capio, and Otto Capio; his siblings Ada Lou Capio and Mario Capio; and many close friends who will remember his intense and quiet presence and his generous heart.

Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of Roy’s life on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 at 3 pm at Unity of Bloomington Chapel, 4001 S Rogers Street, Bloomington, Indiana. Memorial donations may be made in his name to Unity of Bloomington https://www.unityofbloomington.org/giving or Sycamore Land Trust https://sycamorelandtrust.org/donate/.