This article about the Capanos and Faheys appeared in today's paper:www.philly.com/mld/philly/14774787.htmPosted on Fri, Jun. 09, 2006To some, Capano gifts are gallingTwo Del. schools will get $1 million apiece. Critics say a murderer's family seeks to buy redemption.
By Natalie Pompilio
Inquirer Staff WriterIn Delaware, which bills itself as a small wonder, it seems as if almost everyone knows a Capano or a Fahey - or at least the infamous story that has forever linked their names:
In June 1996, Thomas J. Capano, a high-profile lawyer, killed Anne Marie Fahey, scheduling secretary for then-Gov. Tom Carper, after she ended their romantic relationship. The crime, its cover-up, and the eventual trial, conviction and appeals of Capano have gripped the public for years.
And fittingly, it seems, almost everyone has an opinion as two Wilmington Catholic schools - which educate family members of both the killer and his victim - move to name buildings after the Capano family.
Louis Capano Jr. - who is Thomas' younger brother and helped him destroy evidence and hide his crime - has donated $1 million each to St. Edmond's and Archmere Academies with the understanding that both would honor his parents, Louis Sr., who died decades ago, and Marguerite Capano, 82.
St. Edmond's will have a new gymnasium bearing the Capano name; Archmere will gain a student union that includes a chapel and a cafeteria.
Supporters say it's philanthropy at its best.
"I really don't think there are any malicious motives behind it," said William Larson, a graduate of both academies who attended school with one of Louis Sr.'s granddaughters, a top pupil. "I think he's trying to honor his parents, and he knows what the schools need, and he's trying to give back to the two institutions that helped him get where he is today."
But detractors call the donations nothing more than a ploy to buy legitimacy. To that end, they've organized an online petition (www.protectarchmereslegacy.com) and have talked of protesting outside both schools on June 27, the 10-year anniversary of Fahey's disappearance.
"This is not a donation," said U.S. Attorney Colm Connolly, an Archmere graduate who prosecuted Thomas Capano for Fahey's murder and his two brothers for their roles in the cover-up. "It's a deal between the schools and Louie Capano so that Louie can buy his family credibility."
Marybeth Phillips of West Chester, whose younger son is a rising senior at Archmere, called the donations and the subsequent building names "immoral."
"I think it's the most insensitive thing in the world to have a building called 'Capano,' " she said. "I hope every student, teacher and parent calls it the Fahey building."
Anne Marie Fahey was 30 when she disappeared in 1996 after having dinner with Thomas Capano, then 46, at a Philadelphia restaurant. Her body has never been found.
But after more than one year of investigating, police arrested Capano and charged him with the murder. They said he had killed Fahey in his home, packed her body in a cooler, then dumped it at sea. His two brothers, Louis and Gerard, cooperated with authorities. They admitted they had helped their brother cover up the crime and were sentenced to probation. Thomas Capano, originally sentenced to death, appealed and will serve life in prison.
Louis Capano and his attorney did not return calls seeking comment this week. But officials at both schools say they actually solicited Capano, a graduate of and frequent contributor to both academies. When Capano said he wanted buildings named for his parents, neither school had any qualms.
St. Edmond's headmaster Michael Marinelli said the Bible provided the answer in the assertion that the father should not be responsible for the sin of the son, and vice versa.
"I was surprised there was so much concern over just that last name," Marinelli said. "It was part of a very famous court case with obviously lots of media coverage around that, but the persons being recognized are so far removed from that.
"I guess, to us, it was, 'At what point do you let go? At what point do you acknowledge philanthropy?' "
Archmere spokesman Thomas Mallon echoed that thought. It was even possible, he said, that having a Capano building on campus could spark some positive discussions.
"You would have to look at the story and tell it to our students: This is a family who may not have made the greatest decisions in the world, but one of them has decided to do good, and why should we not accept his genuine willingness to support an institution?" Mallon said. "There are some life lessons to learn, absolutely, but we feel most of them are positive."
Phillips dismisses that contention. "This just sends the message that money talks and Jesus walks," she said.
John E. Healy, the cochair of Archmere's capital campaign, said the bottom line was the well-being of the students.
The donation "was accepted in that vein," Healy said. "In the end, whether they agree or disagree with it, everybody understood that the gift would help the students."
As members of the Fahey family see it, the Capano family is trying to buy forgiveness and, by accepting the money, the two academies are effectively sanctioning it. That doesn't sit well with them. "Redemption starts with an apology, which our family has never received," said Robert Fahey of Villanova, one of Anne Marie's brothers. "And last I looked, no one at Archmere or St. Edmond's had a dead sister, so I don't think they're in a position to grant anyone forgiveness."
Kathleen Fahey-Hosey, Anne Marie's sister, said the person she feels most sorry for is her 14-year-old nephew, who will be a freshman at Archmere next year.
"He's going to have to go to chapel on holy days," she said, "and it's named after the family that murdered his aunt."
Contact staff writer Natalie Pompilio at 215-854-2813 or npompilio@phillynews.com.
. She really had to run the gamut of emotions in this one, and she pulled it off so nicely. I was blown away by some of her scenes at the therapist. For those who are wondering, it's a 4-hour miniseries, and she is definitely the star of the first two hours. The second half is about her, but she only makes a brief appearance. The story is good, though, so you'll still want to watch to see what happens, especially since it centers completely on what happened to her character. Excellent movie and excellent acting! 
