PITTSTON — Capozucca Brothers co-owners Ray and Allan Capozucca are cousins, carrying on a tradition their fathers started in the 1960s.
After studying plumbing at Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pittston Township native Raymond Capozucca returned to the area and found work under local plumbers. When he was laid off in March 1962, he went into business for himself. Later that year, his older brother, Albert, joined him after returning from military duty.
“For six months, my truck had written on it ‘Ray Capozucca Plumbing and Heating.’ When he came out of the service, I rewrote it ‘Capozucca Brothers,’” Raymond said.
When Raymond started the business, he was just 22 years old. Now 79 and retired, he completes painting projects for family and friends to pass the time. He and Albert’s sons, Ray and Allan, now complete the projects of Capozucca Brothers, located at 801 Township Blvd.
Allan, 53, started working with his father when he was 12. Growing up in the family business — and partnering with family — is a point of pride for Allan.
“It’s a close group of people who grew up together doing it,” Allan said. “I enjoy it. We’re always with each other.”
Ray, 39, was also raised in the family business. He’s proud to carry on the tradition of the trade, but recalled sometimes butting heads with his elders while learning his craft.
“That’s the way that they were. They were old school,” Ray said. “It was either you did it their way or you didn’t do it at all.”
Ray said technology has drastically changed today’s plumbing, heating and electrical businesses.
“Everybody wants the new thing because everybody watches the DIY Channel these days,” Ray said. “I just gave a bid on a house where the people wanted two $3,000 toilets with heated seats, a nightlight in the toilet, a built-in bidet and electronic control on the wall.”
Motion-activated faucets and temperature control systems that can be controlled from smartphones round out the new technologies gaining popularity, Ray said.
The Capozucca cousins said it’s a pleasure serving their hometowns. Ray enjoys both meeting new homeowners in the area and returning to households that have looked to the business for generations. Allan doesn’t just visit homes to look at the wires and pipes — he visits to meet and visit with the people of his community.
“It’s where we grew up, where we know people,” Allan said. “You’re in different people’s houses every day of the week. Today was probably five different houses. That’s where you get to know your people and you make friendships.”
