The Becton High School community comes together to bid a heartfelt farewell to Mr. Philip Caputo, the Building, Grounds and Transportation Supervisor in his upcoming retirement. His retirement marks the departure of a staff member with dedication, immense expertise, and, of course, a unique sense of humor.
Mr. Caputo’s journey with Becton began over four decades ago in 1977 as an outside contractor specializing in HVAC systems. In 2009, he joined the Becton staff, quickly becoming a vital asset with his proficiency in areas ranging from electrical work and HVAC, to overseeing major construction projects.
Mr. Caputo’s expertise allowed him and his team to tackle a wide array of tasks without relying on external contractors. This not only ensured quality work, but also ensured that everything met Becton expectations. Superintendent Dr. Dario Sforza highlights this, stating, “Over the past 11 years, we have brought in dozens of large-scale construction projects and Mr. Caputo was always at the forefront of each project, making sure that the craftsmanship, on the rare occasion he didn’t do it himself, was up to our Becton standards.”
Dr. Sforza emphasizes Mr. Caputo’s instrumental role during pivotal moments in the school’s history. “One of our biggest accomplishments wasn’t the 28 million noise abatement he finished when I first started, or all the construction it took to integrate a whole new student body and staff into our school with the 30 million dollar Maywood merger… it was the ability to execute during the COVID-19 pandemic and work one of the most complex openings of a school. We kept the school open for our students every single day against all rumors, odds and forces and Mr. Caputo was an integral part of that. I will never forget him for it.”
Dr. Sforza offers, “Mr. Caputo has a traditional strong work ethic, one that I could easily relate to and understand growing up in a blue-collar community and family. There are not many people within his line of work with the knowledge, skills, and work ethic that he has.”
Also reflecting on Mr. Caputo’s tremendous work ethic is art teacher, Mrs. Dawn Savincki, “Mr. Caputo has invested a tremendous amount of effort and dedication with each department at Becton. He and his custodial staff were there for our art department when we really needed them most. He told it like it was even when we didn’t want to hear it. But he always made sure we got what we needed. We will notice a difference in the building next year and it will be a difficult task to fill his shoes and wear the many hats he wore during his years of service at Becton. ”
Mr. Carlo Maucione, who has known Mr. Caputo for 14 years, echoes, “Mr. Caputo is always going above and beyond for everyone. He always finds a way to make things happen.”
Indeed, Mr. Caputo’s contributions extended far beyond his technical skills. He served as a mentor, imparting his knowledge and knack to his team members. Becton maintenance crew member, Joan O’Neill, shares, “Mr. Caputo is great. I loved working with him the past four years. He is a man who is a true to his word and he sticks by his employees. He worked right alongside us. Love you, Phil.”
But perhaps what endeared Mr. Caputo most to those who had the privilege of working alongside him was his sense of humor. Mr. Matos fondly recalled, “Working with him is just fun. We always had a good time working on projects together.” Mrs. Gina Annitti added, “I will miss chatting in the halls or my office with him… we always had a good laugh!”
“I hope he enjoys the next chapter in his life,” Ms. Jessica O’Driscoll captivates, who further explains the drive that Mr. Caputo consistently demonstrated, “He deserves to relax, travel, and enjoy his time with family and friends in every way he has always wanted to.” Mrs. Victoria DeSantis similarly cherishes Mr. Caputo’s time here, “He is the miracle worker who, along with his team, has taken care of my classroom and office. I will forever be grateful for everything that he has done for me and especially for all of the laughs.”
While Mr. Caputo may be retiring from his official duties, his impact will continue to be felt in the school for years to come. His dedication, prowess and sense of humor have left an indelible mark on all who have had the pleasure of knowing him. Mrs. Vaccaro adds, “I wish Mr. Caputo fun with his family, traveling to the Caribbean, and relaxation in his retirement… and no more 5:00am mornings!”
We extend our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to Mr. Caputo as Mr. Caputo has been the force behind “the safety and beauty of our school, both inside and out,” as Mr. Alexander Vargas graciously puts it.
“His ability to take our visionary ideas and turn them into reality from a physical infrastructure perspective will surely be missed, alongside the comfort to never have to worry about the Buildings & Grounds with Mr. Caputo in charge,” Dr. Sforza further concludes.
As he leaves behind his role as supervisor, he reassures his team that his door remains open for any assistance they may need in the future. Mr. Caputo laughed and shared with good nature that he looks forward to getting away from the teachers and all the demands from the district, but he made sure his crew knew, “If you ever need anything, just call me.”
