Richard Andrew Sapio

The seventh of nine children, Rick was born on October 26, 1963 to Frank and Marie Sapio in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey where they attended Corpus Christi Catholic Church. He graduated from Hasbrouck Heights High School in 1982 and went on to study engineering at Rutgers University.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1987, he began what would become an incredibly successful entrepreneurial career, which included the founding of more than 20 companies. Rick had a love of business and, at 29 years old, wrote the business plan for USA Mutuals and Mutual Capital Alliance, Inc., which was his holding company. He co-authored an international best-selling book and was the proud Founding Member and 7-time Chair of the Gathering of Titans Program held at MIT. He leaves behind an unmatched legacy of business excellence.

In 2003, Rick met his beautiful wife Melissa, whom he married on March 25, 2006. Rick and Melissa went on to have 4 beloved children, Luke (17), Leo (14), Ellie (12), and Vinny (10). He instilled a love of all things Italian in his family, teaching each of his children how to speak the language with fluency. He demanded excellence from all those around him, including his children, who have become exceptional students, pianists, and black belts in karate. Rick cherished dinners with his family and the many friends who shared this special time in the Sapio home. Over countless delicious meals lovingly prepared by Melissa, Rick would ask difficult and provocative questions of his children and guests as he passed around his prized and dreaded “talking stick,” until Melissa rescued everyone with a short story that always included a life lesson on faith, kindness, honesty, or integrity. Doing all things with intentionality was paramount to Rick, and his passion for pursuing one’s personal mission and vocation in life was something he hoped to share with all of those whom he loved.

Rick’s Catholic upbringing was the foundation upon which his life was built, and there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit led him to Melissa, so together they could grow and strengthen their shared faith. They took great joy in creating family traditions centered around that faith and treasured the many dinners, celebrations, and holidays where these traditions highlighted the beauty of their rich Catholic heritage. When Rick discovered a little Catholic, electronics-free school for high school boys on a farm in Fort Scott, Kansas, he was convinced that it was the ideal place for his boys to master the most important things in life—the pursuit of excellence through hard work and study and heroic Catholic virtue. He did not know then that this band of Catholic brothers and men would stand in the gap to usher his boys into manhood after his passing.

Rick was loyal and devoted to everyone he loved and, therefore, gathered countless friendships throughout his years as an entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, connector, and confidant. He was never one for small talk, but loved being teased and returning the favor. One of Rick’s favorite quotes was, “All things good come to those for whom the good is all things,” by Guy Finley. He wore that quote well. His big smile, hearty laugh, and passion for life will be missed by many.

Rick was predeceased by his parents, brother Frank, sister Sandy, and brothers-in-law Vinny Reardon and Tony Tornabene. He is survived by his loving wife Melissa; his 4 children, Luciano, Leonardo, Eliana, and Vincenzo; his brothers Bob (Gail) Sapio, and Russ (Maria) Sapio; his sisters Debbie Reardon (Glenn Wolfel), Judy (Frank) Dreher, Suzy Tornabene, and Tina (Steve) Kaufmann, and brother-in-law John Cannova. Additionally, 24 nieces and nephews and 19 great-nieces and nephews grieve the loss of their uncle.

A visitation will be held at Calvary Hill Funeral Home on Sunday, January 5, 2025 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. A rosary followed by a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Monica Catholic Church on Monday, January 6th at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Rick’s honor to Saint Martin’s Academy in Fort Scott, Kansas, a school that Rick loved and entrusted to the education and formation of his boys. https://saintmartinsacademy.org/donate

*If anyone wishes to send flowers, the family requests that you support the small local business Crimson and Quill, 214-558-2504, inspired@crimsonandquill.com.