Mr. Philip R. Caito "Bobby"

Caito, Philip R. “Bobby”, 75, of North Providence, died unexpectedly in his home on August 6th, 2015. He was the son of the late Phil & Rose (Costantino) Caito. He is survived by 2 sons, Christopher Caito, his wife Rebecca and their son Nicholas of Saunderstown, RI; David Caito and his companion Patricia Sheldon Rossi, her daughter Talia and their daughter Isabella from Scituate, RI; 2 brothers, Thomas Caito and his wife Marguerite of Gloucester, MA and Gerald Caito and his wife Catherine of Warwick, RI and several nieces and nephews.

He graduated from Mt Pleasant High School in 1958 where he lead the football team to Division I state championships in his junior and senior seasons while making All State and All American honors. In 1966, he graduated with a Masters degree from Boston University where he was also the starting quarter back for his junior and senior years.

Upon graduating high school in 1958, he enlisted into the US Air Force and served for 3 years prior to attending college. Then in 1978 he enlisted in the US Air Force Reserves and served 17 years in the 143rd R.M.S at Quonset Point in North Kingston, RI until 1995.

Phil was a health & physical education teacher for 29 years and retired from the Cranston School Department in 1990. A well respected high school and college multiple sport athlete, as well as a referee for over 26 years, afforded him a distinguished membership to the RI Italian American Sports Hall of Fame 2004 and the RI Wrestling Hall of fame for officiating in 2005. In 2010 he was inducted into the prestigious Providence Gridiron Club, joining his brother Tom, inducted in 1983, and to be later joined by his brother Jerry in 2011, making the Caito family the first trio of brothers to ever enter this prestigious Hall of Fame. In 2011 the RI Football Foundation awarded him the Special Football Officials Award for many years of service to the Rhode Island High School Football Program.

Please see a touching tribute named ‘Coach Dad’ brings support, experience to Tolman sideline at:
http://wpri.com/2014/11/17/coach-dad-brings-support-experience-to-tolman-sideline/

This was a report done by Channel 12 news documenting the challenges Phil had with Parkinson’s Disease. It showed how his love of football, and his son David, gave him the strength to overcome the limitations and challenges he faced daily with this disease. It was a true testament to the character Phil Caito displayed every day. It may have slowed him down but he never let it defeat him . To adapt a famous speech from legendary basketball coach Jimmy V talking about cancer that can also be applied to Parkinson’s Disease…“ it can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever. I thank you, and God bless you all.” That is how Phil Caito lived his life.


Visitation Tuesday (MORNING), August 11, 2015 from 8-10am at Maceroni Funeral Home, 1381 Smith St., North Providence, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 1804 Atwood Ave., Johnston. Burial with military honors will follow at Highland Memorial Park, Johnston.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Phil’s memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Reasearch at www.michaeljfox.org .