Alfred Anthony Caro

Al Caro passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family and those he loved, on the evening of June 20. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Al was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Louise Caro; his parents, Pompilio and Maria (Mobilio) Carofaniello; brothers, Nicholas, Mario, and Frank Caro, and sisters, Virginia Caputo and Marie Kozlowski. He is survived by his daughter, Lynn (Caro) Devins and his son, Charles Caro, as well as his grandchildren, John Devins, Will Devins, Niki Caro Bakri, and Chad Caro, and his great-grandchildren, Grayson Bakri, Jack Devins, Gigi Devins, and Silas Devins. Al served stateside in the Army Corps of Engineers as a first lieutenant during the Korean War after graduating from Penn State with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1952. He was a man of tremendous principle and discipline and one of the kindest, most considerate people you’ll ever meet. His undying thirst for knowledge was encapsulated in one of his favorite phrases, "ancora imparo," attributed to Michelangelo in his 80s, meaning "I am still learning." Al pursued his quest for knowledge until the very end. Known for his fantastic knack for numbers and ability to read people, Al excelled in his business life. He moved his young family to Wichita in 1955 where he started and led a series of construction-related ventures across Wichita and the Midwest. The largest and most well-known of these companies was ALCON Construction, founded in 1965. ALCON became one of the most prominent builders and developers of commercial real estate in the Midwest, contributing significantly to the development of modern east Wichita, including aircraft manufacturing facilities that served as a significant part of Wichita's economy through the latter half of the 20th century. The driving force behind Al's hard work was always his family. Al was the consummate Dad, Uncle, and Grandpa-or Poppi, as he was affectionately known to his grandchildren. He was stern and serious when needed, but he also cherished the beauty and wonders of life. He loved his kids and grandkids more than anything, and they loved him just as much. Al had a signature style-always neat and formal, but rarely in a suit. He favored a fresh single-color polo shirt tucked into khaki pants, and he wore a Swatch watch while others wore Rolexes. He was himself and more confident in that than anyone you’ll ever meet. He loved his garden, where he grew amazing tomatoes, the freshest herbs, the hottest peppers, and a handful of heirloom plants from his parents' original home in Italy. In his prime, he was an avid racquetball player, known to pull some strings to get a court during prime time, even when the courts were full. Al also enjoyed an excellent red wine, particularly cabernet sauvignon or zinfandel. For many years, he imported grapes to Wichita to make wine with his family and friends, a cherished tradition and a nod to his Italian heritage. He was a fantastic chef who cherished the annual tradition of making homemade ravioli in enormous batches for gifts and for Christmas dinner in an assembly line of family and friends-a tradition that will proudly be carried on in his honor. His advice was overflowing with wisdom, and he made unique traditions with all his kids and grandkids, who miss him tremendously. He purchased a vacation home in Cape Cod, where he cherished taking his expanding family for long summer vacations "Back East." These vacations were filled with whiffle ball, Jeep rides out on Nauset Beach, lobster dinners, and Four Seas Ice Cream visits. Al and his family want to extend a special thanks to Melanie and his entire health care team, without whom he could not have lived his final years the way he wanted, surrounded by love at home. Services will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1321 N Stratford. The Rosary will be at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, and the funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. A reception will follow. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.