What Really Matters: Rusty Callow Award Goes to Yale Third Varsity Lightweights by Jeff Moag, Rowing News Magazine; Check out the magazine online Just when you think you know what rowing is all about, something happens to show us what is truly important. Nobody knows that better than nine young men who rowed in Yale’s third-varsity lightweight eight at the 2006 Eastern Sprints, barely 48 hours after the death of their teammate Alexander Capelluto. The crew’s resilience won them the Russell S. “Rusty” Callow Memorial Award, presented each year to a crew which exemplifies spirit, courage, and unity throughout the year. The award is a fitting tribute to Capelluto, a person who was gifted in almost everything but rowing. Valedictorian and president of his high school class four years running, he was brilliant, funny, and well-liked; but in the broad universe of rowing attributes, he possessed only two: a winning attitude and a strong work ethic. He had those in spades. On the strength of his attitude, the undersized sophomore in the bow of the third varsity somehow became a team leader. “Rowing fit perfectly with the type of individual he was,” says his father, Jacques Capelluto. “Always pushing to be the very best, but doing it as part of a close-knit team. The aspect that really appealed to him was the bonding developed from the hardship endured with his teammates.” Alex’s teammates would endure their greatest trial without him. They had finished their final practice together, a good row

On January 8, 2007, the Alexander Capelluto Award was officially presented to the faculty at the Horace Mann Upper Division.  The grant will be given each year to the one Horace Mann Junior who conceives of and best develops a plan for what he or she would do to make the world a better place. The work can be done in the South Bronx or South Africa, in Chinatown or China. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the recipient of the grant embody some of Alexander’s qualities of integrity, of commitment, of a passion for life.  Information on the grant application will be immediately available to all Juniors via the Foundation website. 

Service remembers Capelluto ’08 Published: Monday, September 11, 2006, View article on Yale Daily News Website Summer Banks and Cari Tuna Staff Reporters Hundreds of family members, friends, teachers and teammates gathered Sunday in Battell Chapel to honor the memory of Alexander Capelluto ’08, the Berkeley College student who died in a bicycle accident on May 18. Guests hugged, laughed, cried and chatted softly before the service while jazz music played in the background. Members of the light and heavyweight crew teams filed in somberly and sat together on one side of the chapel. Berkeley Master John Rogers opened the ceremony by addressing the bittersweet nature of the celebration, describing the full life of the young man whose time was tragically cut short. “He was one of those rare individuals whose generosity and compassion weren’t worn as accessories but seemed to form the very core of his personality,” Rogers said. “What an extraordinary presence.” Capelluto was described by those who knew him as an outgoing student and friend — an energetic young man whose dedication and love for life spilled over into those around him, whether he was organizing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, gearing up for a nation-spanning Habitat for Humanity bike challenge or just sitting in his suite under a fluorescent Rolling Rock sign. “He understood people better than anyone I had ever met,” said Capelluto’s sister, Katherine Capelluto ’04. “He saw goodness in each of us and demanded that we see it in each other.” Speaking at the

Welcome to the Alexander Capelluto Foundation! You could never accuse Alex of being lazy. He was always doing – thinking, helping, learning, living, loving. How could we sit back and not do? And so we did. Alex’s generosity of spirit and the tremendous kindness we have been shown by family, friends, and strangers inspired us to create the Alexander Capelluto Foundation. Starting in 2007, students at Alex’s alma maters will receive the first ACF grants and will be on their way to changing their communities and fulfilling their academic dreams. What can you do? ACF Grants will not be possible without generous funding. Please donate to the Foundation and send all your friends and family to www.alexcap.org to do the same! Plus, check out our new website with photos, videos, background on the grants, and a place for you to share your memories! Start posting!