Harold Peter (Herb) Capozzi

Herb Capozzi

Harold Peter Capozzi was born on April 24, 1925, in Kelowna, BC, to Maria and Pasquale "Cap" Capozzi. The second of three boys, Herb went to school with his brothers, Joe and Tom, as boarders at Vancouver College where he excelled at basketball and football and got his lifelong nickname of Herb. Later, Herb went to the University of British Columbia where he was a member of the Chief's basketball team. Herb earned a B.A. and B.Comm.

Herb became a lineman when football returned to UBC after the war years. He was offered a professional football contract by the New York Giants but he turned them down to go to Italy, on a scholarship, to get his teaching degree at the University of Perugia. He also acted as a correspondent in Italy for the local Kelowna newspaper, sending back stories of his travels in Italy in the post-war era.

In 1952, Herb resumed his football career with the Canadian Football League, playing for the Montreal Allouettes and Calgary Stampeders. While working in Montreal in 1956, he met and married his first wife, Dorothy Skelton, a former Lady of the Lake. In 1957, the BC Lions appointed Herb to General Manager. Herb and Dorothy moved to West Vancouver where they raised four children during their 24 years of marriage. 

After leaving the Lions in 1966, Herb became a Social Credit MLA, representing Vancouver Centre, in the BC Legislature for seven years. It was also during this time that he helped his good friend, George Tidball, start The Keg Restaurants and bring McDonald's to Canada. 

One of Herb's proudest and most well-known achievements was starting the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1973. Herb served as owner, president, and board chairman for the team. 

Herb met his third wife, Alixandra Ydo, in 1992. She was a former model and more than 30 years his junior. Alix and Herb were married in 1995 and she was with him until the end.

Herb and the Capozzi family's Kelowna accomplishments are well known. They started the first Okanagan winery with Calona Wines, which was also the first provider of sacramental wine for BC. They built the first hotel and shopping centre in Kelowna with the Capri Hotel and Shopping Centre.

Through Dabbers, Kelowna's first professional bingo parlour, they raised millions of dollars for charity. Herb was a recipient of the Order of BC in 2008, in which they called him an "Ambassador for British Columbia.”

Herb passed away on November 21, 2011, at his home in Kelowna. The Herb Capozzi Fund was set up at the Central Okanagan Foundation. The aim of the Fund is to have it disbursed to athletes and students who are not necessarily the fastest, strongest or smartest, but who show the most enthusiasm and commitment in their field.

Adapted from a story by Sheena Capozzi, in the 76th Report of the Okanagan Historical Society, 2012.