James Capozzola, 1962-2007
Jul 2nd, 2007 at 9:21 pm by Susie
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
- “Funeral Blues,” W.H. Auden.
My friend Jim died this evening.
Jim, one of the founders of the political blogosphere, started the Rittenhouse Review a week or two before Duncan Black started Eschaton.
He was my fairy blogfather. He showed me how to install a sitemeter, he gave me tips for building readership, and advised me to “pick a fight with a blogger who’s much better known - you can’t believe how well it works.” (I never took his advice, though.) He even paid to have the ugly banner ad removed from the top of my first site.
More than that, Jim was extraordinarily generous. A master networker, he insisted on introducing all of his friends to each other and they, in turn, became friends. “See?” he’d say. “I told you you’d hit it off.” In turn, I introduced him to the sweet potato fries and the chocolate bread pudding at Silk City.
He was a great writer who won a Koufax award for what is one of the liberal blogosphere’s seminal pieces, “Al Gore and the Alpha Girls: The Enduring Power of Cliques in a Post-High-School World.” (You really should read it, the whole thing.) Here’s an excerpt:
Not long ago a newly found colleague, if I may call him that, lamented the harsh tone adopted by many webloggers. (He did not put this comment directly to me, but we both knew he well could have.) My response was that webloggers, some of whom I find smarter, more eloquent, and more perceptive than a sizable portion of their professional counterparts, do not share the punditburo’s status anxiety and do not join with the punditboro in enthusiastically casting aside whatever principles they might have in a craven effort to curry favor with their colleagues.
Jim spoke God knows how many languages. I once met him for lunch when he walked in wearing a Walkman. This intrigued me, because he never, ever listened to popular music. “What are you listening to?” I said, pulling at the headphones.
“I’m teaching myself Dutch,” he said, almost apologetically.
He was also an impeccable dresser who used to work on Wall Street, and he absolutely adored Philadelphia, his adopted city. He made a mean marinara. And because he was the product of a mixed marriage (Irish and Italian), he was both romantic and brilliantly sarcastic. (Jim sometimes said he couldn’t wait to hear what people said about him at his wake.) Oh, and he loved musical comedies.
He was a devout Catholic who knew more about canon law than most bishops. He often accompanied me to Christmas Eve Midnight Mass.
He struggled with his illnesses and it was difficult to hold a job. He wasn’t sick enough to get disability, but not well enough to work all that steadily. Because we were both always broke, we’d feed each other when we could.
He could be a pain in the ass, but in such an interesting way. The world is so much less scintillating without him in it.
He is survived by his much beloved bulldog, Mildred.
UPDATE: I’ll be adding links as I get them to this virtual Irish wake. Here’s Julia, Noz, Pharyngula, Gen. J.C. Christian, Elayne, Demosthenes, Avedon, Skippy, Max, Ezra, Mike Signorile, and this especially lovely piece from Richard Cranium. Leah from the Mighty Corrente Building, and this from Matt at Tattered Coat. Click here for a picture of Jim with Sir Oolius.
What awful news.
Now I’m glad I got off the phone with you - just look at what you wrote. So beautiful, Susie.
I wish I could write more, but I keep crying and can’t see the screen. Plus I don’t think my HP warranty covers water damage.
I am very sad.
dammit.
holy shit. i had no idea he was on life support. this is terrible news.
[...] James Capozzola, 1962-2007. [...]
[...] A fucking pile of shit scum sucking traitor like George W. Bush commutes the sentence of scum sucking traitor Scooter Libby while good guy, and personal acquaintance, Jim Cappozola has to go and die. [...]
Goodbye, James Capozzolo….
One of the founding members of the liberal blogosphere, The Rittenhouse Review has been in the blogroll here since the very beginning of this site. Via Atrios, I see that its author, Jim Cappozola, died this evening. I never met……
[...] One of the early blogs that I very much enjoyed was The Rittenhouse Review, a Philly blog which I discovered shortly after leaving Philadelphia. It had gone quiet a while ago, rather mysteriously — it’s another of those odd things about this medium that there can be so few signs of what’s going on in real life from what we see online — but sadly, we now learn that the author, Jim Capozzola has died after a long illness. [...]
LIGHT A CANDLE…
For Jim Capozzola, author of the Rittenhouse Review. He was a hell of a writer. I hadn’t written him in some time, had no idea he was ill. We used to send each other little notes about crazy people we……
[...] One of the early blogs that I very much enjoyed was The Rittenhouse Review, a Philly blog which I discovered shortly after leaving Philadelphia. It had gone quiet a while ago, rather mysteriously — it’s another of those odd things about this medium that there can be so few signs of what’s going on in real life from what we see online — but sadly, we now learn that the author, Jim Capozzola has died after a long illness. [...]
[...] I was honored to know, however briefly in the continuum of life. Susie has more rememberences at Suburban Guerrilla. Jim touched a lot of people both online and in the real [...]
[...] words from Susie, Noz, Brendan, Duncan, Karl and many others. [email this post] Explore posts in the same [...]
[...] One of the early blogs that I very much enjoyed was The Rittenhouse Review, a Philly blog which I discovered shortly after leaving Philadelphia. It had gone quiet a while ago, rather mysteriously — it’s another of those odd things about this medium that there can be so few signs of what’s going on in real life from what we see online — but sadly, we now learn that the author, Jim Capozzola has died after a long illness. [...]
[...] of all left blogtopia and writer of the rittenhouse review, has passed away. susie mandrak of suburban guerilla gives us the terrible news: my friend jim died this [...]
[...] good friend, journalist Susie Madrak, can explain him a bit more. It seems so odd that such young pioneers as Jim and Steve Gilliard are suddenly missing. To many [...]
I’ve made a copy of that Alpha Girls post; it’s too good to get lost in the depths of cyberspace. Somebody who knew him ought to make a copy, since I’m an unlikely keeper of the record.
This is so sad. He was such a class act.
(Is Mildred okay? Contact me if there’s a problem placing her.)
Mildred is now living with one of Jim’s brothers.
I didn’t even know he was sick. This is sad news and even though I didn’t know him very well, when Brendan first introduced me to him, my impression was much as how you have characterized him here.
Bright, intelligent, friendly, respected.
I’m never good with final words so I’ll just leave it at this. The blogosphere has lost another great member.
[...] has written up a beautiful tribute to [...]
[...] One of the early blogs that I very much enjoyed was The Rittenhouse Review, a Philly blog which I discovered shortly after leaving Philadelphia. It had gone quiet a while ago, rather mysteriously — it’s another of those odd things about this medium that there can be so few signs of what’s going on in real life from what we see online — but sadly, we now learn that the author, Jim Capozzola has died after a long illness. [...]
I’m sorry he’s gone, I am even more sorry that he didn’t get the medical care he needed. But - I’m one person that says “The United States Government is not in the business of assuring each and every person with health care.” That is our own duty to get health care as it is available in the world. There is the poorest of the poor that have no health care, but they seem to get by with whatever medical care is actually available.
I wish people would stop putting their hands out expecting the government to put something in their hands that will take care of all their problems. The world does NOT owe anyone a living. They owe it to themselves.
And the same goes for me too. Don’t get me wrong - I try to help however I can to help others who are definitly less fortunate than myself. I once walked the streets, had no health care, had nothing, not even a decent paying job - but it is always up to me to take care of ME.
One of the progressive blogosphere’s founders, Jim Capozzola, of Philadelphia’s own Rittenhouse Review, has passed. To give you some perspective, Jim started Rittenhouse Review about two weeks before Duncan Black (aka Atrios) started Eschaton.
I met Jim at Drinking Liberally here in Philadelphia, and while I did not know him as well as Susie or Duncan, I will miss his wit, humor and intelligence.
As with Steve Gilliard, I find myself once again asking, why do the good die young, while the evil stay to further poison the world?
I’m so sorry to hear your loss. The circumstances leading to the death of your friend is a similar ticking bomb for many in this country, including my own daughter. Chronically ill, yet not ill enough to be disabled…she teeters between health and catastrophe with no medical insurance and no consistent relationship with a medical professional who is well-acquainted with her history.
Our country has become tragic in many ways and this loss of life-in any family- that should come to pass is a consequence of a country that is no longer guided by the best intentions for its people.
Is there anyway you all can ensure his blogs will live on? I’ve wondered that since the passing of Steve Gilliard…how to best maintain the work of those who have left us….?
Damn.
Jim was an inconvenient conscience, exactly what we should all hope to be in these times.
thanks jim for the great times shared, and for introducing me to susie! i miss you.
[...] James Capozzola, 1962-2007 [...]
[...] personally. But with the rest of the blogosphere I am sadden to learn that he died yesterday. Susie Madrak of Suburban Guerrilla did know him personally. “The world is so much less scintillating without him in it,” [...]
[...] I’m saddened to learn that Jim Capozzola, of the Rittenhouse Review, died last evening. [...]
I’m sorry to hear about your friend, and sickened by the fact that access to healthcare played a role. God bless Jim and his loved ones.
Jim, you were a bitchin writer and an utter joy to be around at the few DL’s I got to experience with you. You had a way of bringing a room to life that I’m sure will leave us infused us with that life for a long time to come. Godspeed.
RIP, James C….
James Capozzola of the Rittenhouse Review, one of the earliest lefty blogs, died tragically after a series of medical misfortunes. RIP, James.
My own story w……
I met Jim several times. He attended all of our campaign organizing meetings in Philadelphia when I was working for Chuck Pennacchio. Jim was always a class act.
I recall his walking me all over center city one Saturday (at least it seemed like ALL of center city, lol) looking at different venues. He didn’t have to take the time to do that he was just a nice guy. We’ll miss him.
I hadn’t added him to my blogroll because he hadn’t written much lately, now I understand why. It’s a shame when we lose such good people.
For me as a reader, Jim & Rittenhouse Review was fun & stylish, and on the side of the angels. And the Philly blog scene seemed so vibrant and friendly. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend, and for the loss to the blogosphere. Condolences, and RIP, Jim.
I exchanged a few emails with him, but I didn’t know Jim very well.
I’m one of the people filling in for Roger Ailes while he goes on vacation. I’m sure he’ll post his own tribute to Jim upon his return, but until then, mine will have to do.
[...] of the best. His writing sparkled with insight and wit and was always a joy to read. I join the countless bloggers, readers, friends, and fans who mourn his loss. Technorati Tags: James Capozzola, Jim Capozzola, Death In Liberal [...]
[...] was very sad to hear about the death of pioneer blogger, Jim Capazzola of the Rittenhouse Review. RR was one of the first ‘big’ blogs I knew about and dealt [...]
[...] Skippy * Avedon Carol * Julia of Sisyphus Shrugged * Elayne Riggs * Susie Mandrak * Leah at Correntewire * TalkLeft * Noz * Pharyngula * MaxSpeak * PatriotBoy * [...]
Jim will be greatly missed. I’ve known him for many, many years, and although we had fallen out of touch this is incredibly horrible news.
I would like to send flowers if possible. Please contact me if you have any information on the funeral arrangements
I apologize for the throwaway account. I will respond to any email from my regular address.
Thank you very much. And I am so sorry for your loss.
(I’m response 39).
My email is taacct1@gmail.com
This is so terribly sad. I just got to know Jim personally this year when he visited L.A. To say he will be missed is an understatement.
Sometimes I think all the best people are dead.
go in peace James. You will be remembered by all of us.
What a fine tribute to a friend.
What David E. said. How terrible. We corresponded on this and that in the early part of the millennium; I wish I had gotten to meet him. He had a wonderful voice–cranky yet freewheeling. A kin to Gilliard in so many ways and now they’re both gone. Shit.
[...] the others who are writing postmortems, I didn’t know him personally, I never corresponded with him, and [...]
Folks:
I had the pleasure of getting to know Jim as a colleague and friend back in the happier 90s. I came to know Jim as a man of humor, wit and style. I have never met a greater intellect and when the stars were aligned, a person of better intellectual judgment. The fact that the stars cannot, and could not, always be aligned is the hard edge of life that can wear a man down.
As I recently discussed with a friend on the occasion of another contemporary’s passing, I myself have meditated too much in recent years on my father’s death, and after all of that the only conclusion I can safely reach is that the dead, in spirit, don’t want us to feel bad. They want us to feel good. I am pretty sure I can speak for Jim’s own spirit in this regard.
I share with Jim a Catholic’s faith. It may be that someday we will go bowling for free and eat all the ice cream we want and never get sick. More likely, I suspect that our current existential situation cannot begin to describe even the littlest bit of the whole of our existence as it has been and as it will be beyond our brief stint in the here and now. Jim is away from us now, but he’s moving nearer to God. See you later.
I met Jim once at a Philly blogger get together in 2003. I described him as a 40-ish Italian hipster, which he seemed to enjoy.
I’ll miss that 40-ish Italian hipster.
[...] like Susie, Duncan, Brendan, Phillybits, and many [...]
[...] is not even a little doubt in my mind that, if The Rittenhouse Review’s Jim Capozzola had remained a Republican, he’d be alive right now. He would have been in a well-paid think [...]
I have to confess that I did not know Jim Capozzola. But after reading your tribute to him, I know it was my loss.
I’m really sorry that you lost such a good friend, Susie. And that such a good man as it sounds like he was, should die at such a young age.
What did he die of? He was so young.
Sad news. Best wishes.
[...] also offered to the readers of the Rittenhouse Review, an old school blog whose founder-editor Jim Capozzola died this week after a long [...]
Thanks for this tribute to a long-ago-but-always dear friend. When I started editing RH Reality Check, Jim, a friend from DC/Rehoboth Beach, said, “I knew you’d get dragged into the blogosphere sooner or later.” While we emailed about getting together over the last two years, it never happened - and that now makes me crankier than a wench. To me and many Jimmy was the most witty, biting, adorable, intelligent, compassionate, sexy guy we knew … and he was fun when he was sober too. I can hear him holding court now on the screened porch at Rehoboth, waves crashing, breakfast cooking, hangovers nursing … he there with the Sunday Times … “can you fucking believe ….” and now today, I say, can you fucking believe Jimmy is dead? I cannot, because a spirit that strong never dies, we’ll just have to look a little closer to see where he comes through next. So sorry not to be able to make the funeral …. thanks so much for allowing this space for a tribute.
This makes me VERY angry and sad to first meet a progressive, pioneer blogger when they are GONE from us. This is the second or third one lately. I’m so sorry for those of you who knew him. I’ve BEEN highly suspicious about the deaths of so many journalists and now I am increasingly edgy about the deaths of so many bloggers. It seems like too high a number to me.
At least we have his words.
Again, I’m sorry for the loss of a voice AND your beloved friend and loved one. I’m sorry that my mind tends to suspicion; it didn’t used to be this way.
I learned today with great sadness that James Capozzola passed away early last week; we both began our blogs in April 2002 (I beat him by just about 11 days there) and have been in each other’s blogrolls more or less since then. Of course I did not know him personally, but our occasional email exchanges were always extremely stimulating and worthwhile.
Rest in Peace
[...] also offered to the readers of the Rittenhouse Review, an old school blog whose founder-editor Jim Capozzola died this week after a long [...]
I did not know Jim but stumbled across this news while looking around at quotations from Auden’s beautiful poem. My mother died July 2 about two hours after Jim, who sounds like a similarly wonderful person that my mom would have really liked. Condolences, and at least we know that there is good company for our loved folks, somewhere off in another sphere.
Jim posted about Midge Decter’s “The Boys on the Beach”, a misguided article from 1980 that provided much of the Right’s perspective towards homosexuality — which is wrong. When I went looking for his post on the net tonight, I discovered he had passed. He wrote much that I agree with and made his points well. I will miss reading what he had to say.
Thank you Susie for having been a friend to Jim as he lay dying. That’s a tough thing to do. Doing the right thing is not easy. Your strength in doing so honors you and yours. May you go from strength to strength. May your actions inspire us to do so.
Thank you Susie for your friendship to Jim. I’m learning of his passing now.
He was my boss many years ago. More importantly, he was my mentor and a friend. He challenged me professionally and personally and I am forever grateful. Sadly, we lost touch.
I can only hope and pray he’s happier and healthier in the after-life. Goodbye dear friend.
[...] was lost at too young an age, Jim Capozzola of The Rittenhouse Review. Susie Madrak wrote a nice remembrance of her friend and fellow Philadelphian last summer, when he died from a lack of health insurance at [...]
As one of the “Alpha” girls Jim was talking about the news of his death saddens me. I have often wondered what became of Jim through the years. It has been probably 25 years or more since I talked to him and say him last. I thought I would do a web search today for him and upon discovering his passing last year took a moment to reflect on what our lives were like 28 years ago when we graduated from W.C.S. I guess I didn’t think of us as “all that bad” back then. Jim was a great guy. The relationship we all shared was unique in so many ways. I am sorry for the loss that all of you that knew him so well. I wish I could have known him all these years. Sadly like alot of people from our class we have gone our seperate ways never to return.
Angel