Sad loss of the Houseman

E

edatplaypool

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Most here are too young, and frankly I am too having just caught a bit of it. The loss of the Houseman is a sad reflection on pool. I think this is one of those reasons that there are so few serious pool rooms anymore.

Talking about Cue-Nique in Madison, for years they had a houseman called "Cappy". I don't even know if that related to his real name or not. Even though Jerry Briesath was the owner at the time, he never knew who I was. Cappy always did, or it sure seemed he did. Cappy would shoot some straight pool with you, or steer you to or away from a game as appropriate. I have no idea when Cappy passed, but he was probably the one person at Cue-Nique that I miss the most.

The houseman is the guy who watches out for regulars, teaches them how to play, welcomes you when you come into the room. Basically the person who used to make a pool room feel like a second home, rather than just another business to take your money. If he could teach you a thing or two, or just be there during the day so you know it might be worth your time to stop up, then you would keep coming back and the room would stay busy. At least that was the way it seemed to me.
 
Thanks Jay. The internet is amazing. I was able to find some info. Turns out Cappy only died about 3 years ago.

MADISON - Joseph T. Capossela, age 90, of Madison died on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, after a brief illness at Ingleside Nursing Home, Mount Horeb. Cappy was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He came to Madison in 1944, as an airman and was stationed at Truax Field. In 1945, after discharge from service, he remained in Madison, and began employment at the Wisconsin State Journal as a reporter. We was an amateur artist and exhibited at the Madison Art Fair on the Capitol Square and many other art shows. Technical Sergeant Capossela served in World War II as a radio operator/gunner on a B-24 Bomber and flew 31 missions over Europe. He earned the Distiuiguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak clusters. He was noted as a pool enthusiast and after his retirement worked part-time at Cue-Nique Billiards. He also served a pool instructor and spent many years conducting mini courses in pool at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union South. Cappy is survived by his wife, Lorraine; a daughter, JoEllen Anderson of Vista, Calif.; a granddaughter, Jessica Anderson of Wiemur, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Geraldine B. Heydn of Madison; nieces and nephews; also a special friend, Duane Weum of Monona. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and two sisters. Our thanks go the staff of Ingleside Nursing Home who gave him such loving care. A private family service will be held in Menominee, Mich., and burial will be in Birch Creek Cemetery, Birch Creek, Mich. There will be no visitation. Flowers are asked to be omitted. Memorials may be made to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 211 State St., Madison, WI 53703.
 

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edatplaypool said:
Most here are too young, and frankly I am too having just caught a bit of it. The loss of the Houseman is a sad reflection on pool. I think this is one of those reasons that there are so few serious pool rooms anymore.

Talking about Cue-Nique in Madison, for years they had a houseman called "Cappy". I don't even know if that related to his real name or not. Even though Jerry Briesath was the owner at the time, he never knew who I was. Cappy always did, or it sure seemed he did. Cappy would shoot some straight pool with you, or steer you to or away from a game as appropriate. I have no idea when Cappy passed, but he was probably the one person at Cue-Nique that I miss the most.

The houseman is the guy who watches out for regulars, teaches them how to play, welcomes you when you come into the room. Basically the person who used to make a pool room feel like a second home, rather than just another business to take your money. If he could teach you a thing or two, or just be there during the day so you know it might be worth your time to stop up, then you would keep coming back and the room would stay busy. At least that was the way it seemed to me.
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Nice post, Ed, and good to see you around here. How 'bout a FARGO tourney?

pj
chgo
 
ScottR said:
I believe I remember him from the early 80's at Cue-Nique. Would he have been there during that timeframe?

One of the best threads I have read on here in a LONG time.

Scott
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Exactly. I was going to school at the UW from 77 to 81. Cappy was there at that time and for some time afterwards.

It is certainly enlightening to see what a valuable contribution a person can make during a well-lived life. I only knew him as a pool player and a friend. I had no idea he had done so much more.
 
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From Brooklyn too. This is puzzling as i learned on here that Yankees are normally POS.
 
Ed thanks for the great read on the loss of the houseman. I can remember a few, he was the guy that was around when you first started going to a billiard establishment. He was the one that told you not to just dump the balls on the table, to hang your cue back on the wall when you were done. Not to put your cigarette on the rail. Not to put the chaulk upside down on the rail as it got his apron dirty. Asked that you respect others around you, be that cussing or overtly boisterous.

The houseman was there almost every day and when he wasn?t you wondered aloud if he was ill. He played for the love of the game and the people around it. More often then not he was never the best player in the room, but the ones that were had learned much from him. Although his best pool playing days were behind him, he was always there to be played.

You had to love the game of pool or billiards to play the man. Maybe a dollar or two going to 100 in straights was ok with him, anything more was out of the question, because he played for the love of the game. More often then not the houseman showed up after lunch and left before dinner. If you saw him on weekends it was only to watch a tournament at his home room.

You could quit playing for weeks, months or years, but when you returned the houseman was there with a big where have you been ?Buddy?. No, buddy was not a pet name as everyone was buddy to the houseman.

I remember a Joe from the Antlers in Milwaukee that would grind the chaulk so it could be used when many would throw it away. Bill Haberman and Ace that ran the community center when I started to play. A fellow that owned a room in Tomah Wi. that with his wife, would travel miles to support the game he loved.

I was just lucky enough to have known Joseph ?Cappy? Capossela. He was at ?Ole?s? when I first walked in the door in 1966, it changed to ?Action Billiards? then moved next door and became ?Cuenique? and Cappy came with the changes.



Thanks Cappy for your ?Little Joey? stories spoken in the Brooklyneese that sixty years in Wisconsin could not quite erase, gone but not forgotten, may you rest in peace ?Buddy?.

Mark
 
ozzie!

I knew I must know who you were. Hi Ozzie, remember me! What's it been, 20 years since I've seen you? Did we ever run into each other when I was running the BCW? Anyway, hope all is well.
 
edatplaypool said:
I knew I must know who you were. Hi Ozzie, remember me! What's it been, 20 years since I've seen you? Did we ever run into each other when I was running the BCW? Anyway, hope all is well.
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Ok now I know you must be Ed Mercer? Instead of taking up space here I'll p.m. you later tonight or tommorrow. And again thanks for the post Ed.

Ozzie
 
A Fargo tournament sounds like a pretty good idea Pat. Let me talk to my webmaster about getting some of the old Fargo stuff reposted and then maybe I can see what kind of interest there is around here.
 
Thanks for sharing this. Joe sounds like a fine gentleman and a great American. "The Greatest Generation" <------people like Joe.
 
I worked with Cappy at Cue-Nique for many years...he was like a grandfather to me. He had a gentle way about him, but he wasn't afraid to set you straight if needed. Everyone respected him...because he respected everyone.
 
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