Elvira Capuco Brundage

Elvira Capuco Brundage, a resident of Laurel, MD for 40 years, passed away while on vacation in Seattle, WA on April 25, 2026 due to a sudden brain hemorrhage. She was surrounded by family and – in keeping with her enormously generous spirit – fulfilled her final wish of being an organ donor.

Born in the Bronx, NY to Vito and Rose Capuco, Elvira had a lifelong love for New York, her Italian heritage, and the seaside, the latter inspired by having moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island at age 9. She graduated from SUNY Geneseo with her B.A. and Syracuse University with her M.A. in teaching, briefly living in upstate New York where she met her husband John.

Supporting children was her greatest passion in life. She taught middle school special education and contributed to the NY State Health Education for Special Children curriculum guide in 1976, before relocating to Maryland where she taught first and second graders at Glenarden Woods Elementary - Blue Ribbon School. She won numerous teaching awards, including the 2003 Prince George's Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Award, a 2013 Extraordinary Service Award honorable mention from Prince George’s County Public Schools, and a special invitation to join First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House as part of the Let’s Move! Initiative in recognition of Elvira’s use of gardening as a teaching method.

She followed these passions into retirement, volunteering at the Patuxent Research Refuge with the monarch butterfly program, as well as with local food banks and schools. She loved people and had the most wonderful laugh. In addition to volunteer service, she was an avid reader, walker, theatergoer, and traveler. She visited at least 33 countries across 6 continents (only missing Australia) sending nearly 1,000 postcards to her five grandchildren. Above all, her grandchildren were the light of her life.

Elvira is survived by her three children Richard (Katherine), Michelle (Ben) and Suzanne (Stephen); her husband John; her grandchildren Isabella, Jacob, Declan, Ada, and Nell; and brothers Anthony, John (Marti) and Ben (Carrie). She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, godsons, in-laws, and friends that she loved deeply.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 17 from 1:00pm - 5:00pm ET in The Great Room at Historic Savage Mill (8600 Foundry Street Savage, MD 20763). All who knew and loved Elvira are welcome. If you can, please let us know if you are coming: RSVP Form

Memorial contributions can be made to the education charity adoptaclassroom.org or the American Cancer Society in Elvira’s name.