Maitland mourns the loss of a well-known library volunteer
At age 71, Ted Capretta still worked part-time and was a daily volunteer at the Maitland Public Library.
He was well-known and wellliked, those who knew him said.
Now, the Maitland community is mourning his death after his body was found July 16 in Lake Lily, less than a block from the library. Maitland police are awaiting the results of an autopsy that will determine how he died.
Capretta volunteered at the library for six years, restocking books to the shelves, said library director Stacie Larson. “He was family,” Larson said. “He wanted to greet everybody, from the tots to the older people. He was very warm and engaging. He wanted to be friends with everyone and would lend a hand wherever he could.”
Capretta liked talking to people about anything from current events to history. A native of Ohio, he also liked conversation about his beloved Ohio State University sports, Larson said.
A parks and recreation employee found Capretta’s body about 9:15 a.m. July 16 near the shoreline after vendors at the weekly Sunday farmers’ market smelled a foul odor, investigators said.
Maitland police said there were no obvious signs of trauma.
Andreas Afxendiou, owner of Athena’s Roasted Chicken, where Capretta worked for more than 15 years, said he last saw him about 8:30 p.m. July 14.
Capretta said he’d be at work the next day but did not show up.
“He was a good man. He was well-liked,” Afxendiou said. “He will be missed not only by us, but by the community as well.”
Capretta was widowed and had children and grandchildren, Afxendiou said. Funeral arrangements are pending.