Delaware Catholic school drops plan to let donor name new building

Published: 2006-07-07

WILMINGTON, Del. (CNS) -- A storm of protest prompted the board of trustees of a Delaware Catholic school to reverse its plans to let a major donor with a connection to a murder cover-up put his family name on a new student center. After pledging $1 million to Archmere Academy's $6 million capital campaign last fall, developer Louis Capano Jr., a 1969 Archmere graduate, had been granted the right to name the Student Life Center in honor of his parents. The developer is a younger brother of Thomas Capano, also an Archmere graduate and a former high-profile Wilmington attorney who is serving a life sentence in prison for the murder of Anne Marie Fahey, his former girlfriend, 10 years ago. Thomas Capano was convicted of murdering Fahey, 30, after Louis and another brother, Gerard, cooperated with prosecutors by admitting they helped their brother cover up the crime. Both Louis and Gerard Capano were sentenced to probation. The board of trustees June 26 announcement on the naming decision came after intense and sustained protests from a group of parents, alumni and students who were upset that the Capano family name would be attached to the center. The announcement came after an agreement reached with Louis Capano Jr. at a meeting that night at the school.

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