Farewell, Carl DiCapo. You worked tirelessly to make Kansas City a better place | Opinion

Kansas City lost one of its great civic leaders when Carl DiCapo died on April 26. I met Carl, one of the founders of the city’s Ethnic Enrichment Commission, in 1982 when its members wanted to move their annual festival to Swope Park. Our friendship grew when Mayor Dick Berkley appointed Carl to the park board.

When the Liberty Memorial closed in 1994, it was Carl along with fellow commissioner Ollie Gates who accepted responsibility to repair the memorial. Carl became dedicated to the cause, securing state, federal and private funds to completely restore and expand the memorial as he continued as president of the Liberty Memorial Association Board of Governors. As recently as this past week, thousands of people walked along Carl J. DiCapo Drive to attend the NFL Draft.

The City of Fountains Foundation recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. A few years ago, Carl, along with fellow commissioner Anita Gorman, raised $3.5 million to make repairs to seven of Kansas City’s iconic fountains. The foundation recognized Carl by placing his name on a restored fountain along Cliff Drive.

Carl enlisted park staff to ring bells for the Salvation Army, while he and his team raised funds to feed 5,000 families every year for more than 30 years. Carl’s heart was always in the historic Northeast, and when the park board took on the responsibility to restore the Kansas City Museum in 2014, Carl stepped up to assist.

I went to visit Carl a few weeks ago. He was not the same Carl we have all loved with his radiant smile, “can do” attitude and generous spirit. He had lost the ability to speak, so I was thrilled to get a fist bump as I departed.

This story was originally published May 1, 2023 at 10:14 AM.