In this heartfelt episode of The Ultimate Men’s Movement, Dr. Jack Rocco reconnects with his former fifth-grade teacher, Yvonne Caputo — now a celebrated author of Flying with Dad and Dying with Dad.

Together, they revisit the remarkable story of Yvonne’s father, a World War II B-24 pilot, whose once-guarded heart and wartime trauma unfolded through storytelling and trust late in life. Through their conversation, they explore father–daughter relationships, emotional healing, legacy, and the courage to talk openly about death, dying, and preparation for the inevitable.

Yvonne shares how her father’s transformation from a stoic, angry man to a vulnerable storyteller changed their bond forever — and how that journey inspired her two books, one about living through her father’s eyes (Flying with Dad) and one about helping him die with dignity (Dying with Dad).

“He trusted me with letting him go.” – Yvonne Caputo

• How a late-night call with her father sparked a flood of untold World War II stories.

• The process of documenting those memories and turning them into her debut book, Flying with Dad.

• How storytelling opened emotional doors between father and daughter.

• Her father’s nightmares, flashbacks, and PTSD — and how Yvonne used her psychotherapy training to help him heal.

• The generational silence of men who “didn’t talk about their feelings.”

• Understanding the “greatest generation” — men who provided but didn’t always know how to emotionally connect.

• How Yvonne became her father’s safe space for vulnerability and healing.

• The deeply personal process of writing her second book about her father’s passing.

• How their emotional closeness guided his end-of-life care and peaceful death at home.

• What it means to have “sacred joy” when saying goodbye to someone you love.

• The importance of advance directives and the Five Wishes document — how to prepare loved ones for end-of-life decisions.

• What it is: a simple, affordable ($5) guide to planning your final wishes.

• What it covers:

  • Medical decisions

  • Pain management

  • Spiritual preferences

  • Funeral details

  • How you want to be remembered

• Why everyone — not just the elderly — should fill one out.

• How Yvonne used the Five Wishes to help her father die peacefully and on his terms.

• Why fathers from older generations struggled with emotion.

• The transformation that happens when fathers and daughters truly listen to one another.

• Yvonne’s advice:

  “If you want to know your father, go to him — he’s not coming to you.”

• How writing Flying with Dad inspired others to reconnect with their parents.

• A woman who, after reading the book, finally began spending time with her father.

• A man who used Dying with Dad to plan his end-of-life conversation with his children.

• How books, storytelling, and honest conversations heal generations.

“He didn’t know that his feelings were normal. He didn’t know that talking about things was okay.” – Yvonne Caputo
“The surgeon doesn’t do the healing — the blood does. The same is true in families: connection does the healing.” – Dr. Jack Rocco
“You grow too soon old and too late smart.” – Yvonne Caputo
“He trusted me with letting him go.” – Yvonne Caputo

• Talk about death before it’s too late. Avoid chaos and guilt by preparing now.

• Use the Five Wishes Document:https://fivewishes.org

• Listen for life’s small openings: When someone shares a story, ask “Tell me more about that.”

• Forgive the silence: Many fathers didn’t know how to express emotion — but they wanted to.

• Celebrate connection: Love and legacy can transcend decades of misunderstanding.

• 🌐 Website:https://www.yvonnecaputo.com

• 📘 Books:

  • Flying with Dad → Amazon Link

  • Dying with Dad → Amazon Link

• 💬 Follow Yvonne:LinkedIn | Facebook

The Ultimate Men’s Clinic – Empowering men to live longer, stronger, and more connected lives.

🌐 Website:https://www.TheUltimateMensClinic.com
📍 Location: New Bedford, Massachusetts
📞 Schedule a Consultation:https://www.TheUltimateMensClinic.com/contact