Rhode Island judge Frank Caprio, known as "the nicest judge in the world", has died after a battle with cancer, according to his social media accounts.
"Unfortunately, I've had a setback. I'm back in the hospital now and I'm coming to you again asking you to remember me in your prayers once more," Mr Caprio said in a recent video, referring to a previous bout of pancreatic cancer.
He became a judge in 1985 and earned his nickname after his stint on the show Caught in Providence, where he was the subject of frequent viral videos due to his compassionate responses to defendants brought before him.
In one case from a 2017 episode, a grieving mother appeared with a stack of parking fines, telling Mr Caprio she was struggling to cope after her son was killed.
The judge dismissed all the penalties and said: "I don't think anyone in their lifetime would ever want to experience that."
Governor Dan McKee ordered that Rhode Island flags fly at half-staff through the day of his interment. He called Mr Caprio a "treasure" who connected with people as "a symbol of empathy on the bench, showing us what is possible when justice is tempered with humanity".
Mr Caprio was a beloved community figure and had millions of followers on social media.
He travelled to the UAE in 2023, where he delivered a speech at the Sharjah International Communication Forum, telling the audience that his visit was motivated by a desire to promote his message that understanding can unite human beings.
"To have a good society, we need to have empathy for others and treat everyone the way we want to be treated," he told The National at the event. "A little compassion can go a long way in helping people solve real-life challenges."
Mr Caprio was due to appear at the same event in Sharjah next month.
Eiman Al Blooshi, an Emirati who met Mr Caprio in his visit to Sharjah’s International Communication Forum in September 2023, said she learnt how to be lenient from the former judge.
“I used to watch his videos from a young age and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I met him during the forum,” she said. "It was a dream come true.
“He inspired me to be lenient and taught me that everything shouldn’t be by the book only. He was a nice and sweet guy. I was praying for him when I learnt that he had the cancer especially after my mother too was diagnosed with cancer.
"I was praying for him like he is a close friend or a relative. He taught me how to be merciful and will always be missed.”
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MATCH INFO
Mainz 0
RB Leipzig 5 (Werner 11', 48', 75', Poulsen 23', Sabitzer 36')
Man of the Match: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
