Jeffrey (Jeff) Scott Capelle

Jeffrey (Jeff) Scott Capelle of Hartford, CT and Provincetown, MA, loving husband and best friend for nearly 22 years of Matthew K. Poland, died peacefully at home on Saturday, June 3, 2017 after a courageous thirty-month battle with advanced prostate cancer. True to Jeff’s strong will and spirit, he remained resolute and focused on making a difference in his world until his last day on Earth.

Born in Panama on May 21, 1959, he was the son of Arlene (Dill) Komyathy, the late U.S. Army Capt. Gerald C. Capelle, and David Komyathy. Jeff’s father, Capt. Capelle, a West Point graduate and American hero, lost his life in the Vietnam War in 1965.

Jeff grew up in Newburgh, NY and graduated from the Newburgh Free Academy and from Union College in Schenectady, NY. After graduation from college he lived with his family in Germany where his father was assigned by IBM. Jeff made great friendships there that remain in our lives today.

He spent more than three decades working for Cigna Healthcare in a wide variety of roles. Jeff made lifelong friends there and was known as a fair-minded and compassionate manager, a faithful colleague, and an advocate for healthcare. Incidentally he created awesome, in-demand PowerPoints!

Jeff was a humble man who always wanted to take care of his family and friends. By cooking a favorite dish served lovingly on beautiful china and silverware. By arranging an antipasto on an enormous platter that never seemed to empty. By navigating a tour of Provincetown Harbor – where he loved to be - on a sunny summer day as captain of Lush Life. By creating his coveted cookbook, or by spending time enjoying a delicious cocktail. By travelling to beautiful places in the world. He spent his life enjoying it, living and loving every day. And all in the company of family and friends.

He dedicated his now famous cookbook to the friends who are the ingredients of our lives. Of them he said:

We are wealthy in our friends. We’ve travelled the world with our friends. We’ve laughed and cried with our friends. And we’ve celebrated our lives together with great food and drink.

The recipes in this collection are like friends both old and new. Some have been tested in many kitchens and some are new and exciting. Some can be adjusted while others must be strictly followed. Many are fun, while others are very serious – just as we are together.

Jeff is survived by his loving husband Matt, his parents Arlene and David Komyathy of Walden NY, his brother Jason Komyathy of Walden, NY; his step-daughter, Maureen E. Lynch and her husband Evan of Derry, NH; his step-son, Ryan M. Poland and his wife Leka, of Walpole MA; his granddaughter, Liliana Eleanor Lynch, of Derry NH, and and his mother-in-law, Eleanor M. Poland of Newington CT. Jeff also leaves many family and friends to celebrate his extraordinary life, especially Susan Lagassee of Hartford CT, Kenneth Byer and Anthony Michalak of West Hartford CT, and Robert Jackson and Ryk Tyzska of The Villages FL.

Jeff remained hopeful throughout his treatment because so many compassionate medical professionals cared for him, especially Dr. Jeffrey Kamradt and his team at the Helen and Harry Gray Center. And in his final days the loving care of the hospice team, led by Andie Barrington, R.N..

Calling hours will be held Friday, June 9, 2017 from 3 pm to 7 pm (service begins at 6:30 pm) at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Jeff will be entombed in Cedar Hill Cemetery in a private service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kenways Cause c/o Associates Federal Credit Union 500 Day Hill Road, Windsor, CT 06095 or at https://www.kenwayscause.org/donate or to the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital, Fund Development Department, 80 Seymour Street, P.O. Box 5037, Hartford, CT 06102-5037. Please make checks payable to Hartford Hospital.

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby