Dr. John Placido Capelli, 77, of Haddonfield – an influential physician in the history of Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden, and a devout Catholic who was honored by Pope John Paul II – died June 29.
Born in Hammonton, Dr. Capelli graduated from Villanova University, Philadelphia in 1958. He attended Jefferson Medical College of the Thomas Jefferson University, graduating in 1962 with his medical degree.
After an internship at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, Ill.; residency in internal medicine at Jefferson Medical College; and post-doctoral fellowship in nephrology at the National Institute of Health in 1967, he completed his board certification in internal medicine in 1969, and his board certification in internal medicine/nephrology in 1972. During this time period, he also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a flight surgeon with the N.J. Air National Guard.
In 1969, he founded and served as the first director of the Dialysis and Transplant Center at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, holding that position until his retirement in 2010. In 1974, he successfully opened South Jersey’s first kidney transplantation program at the hospital. He was also the chief of nephrology at the hospital, from 1975-2001. In 1987, Dr. Capelli was appointed vice president of Medical Affairs at Our Lady of Lourdes, a position he held until his 2010 retirement.
After retiring, he continued practicing internal medicine and nephrology, until his recent illness.
On July 16, 1995, Dr. Capelli was named a Knight of St. Gregory during a ceremony at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Glassboro. Instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1831, the papal honor recognizes those who have distinguished themselves by their loyalty to the Holy See, and by their virtue and piety.
Dr. Capelli is survived by his wife, Patricia (nee Verna); his three children, John L. (Amanda) Capelli, Elizabeth Capelli and David Capelli; and his four grandchildren, James Anthony Fini, Jr., Justin Placido Fini, Isabella Elizabeth Capelli and John Placido Capelli, II.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Vincent Palotti Church, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Haddon Township on July 3. Entombment followed at Calvary Mausoleum.
Donations may be made to either St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 901 Hopkins Rd., Haddon Township, NJ 08033, or to the St. Rose of Lima School Annual Fund, 300 Kings Highway, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035.
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