One of my fondest memories of D’Angelo Carpo perfectly captures who he was—positive, generous, honest, and always able to make you laugh without even trying. From the moment we met, we clicked effortlessly. Maybe it was our shared military backgrounds in aviation, or maybe it was just that we saw the world in a similar way—always looking for the good in people and pushing forward with purpose.
I’ll never forget one particular ride with D’Angelo, Myrna, Claire and I shared . We were driving from Half Moon Bay to downtown San Francisco in his trusty Prius. Now, D’Angelo had this hilarious habit of pumping the gas pedal in such a way that your body would jerk forward when he let off the gas, then slam back into the seat when he accelerated again. It felt like being stuck in a rhythm on a boat rocking in choppy seas. I remember looking over and joking, “Dude, are you a sailor? Are we on the ocean?”
He laughed, of course, and tried to drive smoother—but it was just part of his nature. I used to joke that he joined the wrong branch—he should’ve been in the Navy, not the Air Force. That way, calling him Captain Carpo of the SS Prius would’ve made perfect sense.
But beyond the laughs, D’Angelo was the kind of man who always looked out for you. He genuinely cared, always had your back, and never asked for anything in return. I’m going to miss him deeply.
Until we meet again, my brother from another mother—rest easy.
- Billy
