Nicholas J. Brigandi is best known nationally as the father of television personality Theresa Caputo, the star of Long Island Medium and Theresa Caputo: Raising Spirits. But Brigandi has a substantial public-service record of his own. For decades, he has been associated with the Hicksville community in New York, serving as a volunteer firefighter and as a commissioner of the Hicksville Water District. His long career in local service eventually led the district to name one of its water-treatment facilities after him in 2017.
Brigandi has generally maintained a much lower public profile than his daughter. Most reliable information about him comes from Hicksville municipal records, the local water district, community organizations and interviews connected with Theresa Caputo. These sources document a career centered on public service rather than entertainment.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nicholas J. Brigandi |
| Known For | Father of television personality Theresa Caputo |
| Birthplace | Hicksville, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Wife | Veronica Brigandi |
| Children | Theresa Caputo and Michael Brigandi |
| Profession | Former Nassau County Department of Public Works employee; Hicksville Water District commissioner |
| Water District Service | Member of the Hicksville Water District Board since 1980 |
| 2026 Status | Re-elected to the Hicksville Water District Board for a 16th term |
| Fire Department Service | Longtime volunteer firefighter with Hicksville Fire Department, Engine Company #7 |
| Public Service Career | Worked 37 years for the Nassau County Department of Public Works before retiring as a highway maintenance supervisor |
| Community Recognition | Hicksville Community Council President’s Award in 2004 |
| Named Facility | Nicholas J. Brigandi Water Treatment Facility in Hicksville, named in his honor in 2017 |
| Other Community Roles | Community Council director and member of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, Sons of Italy, Knights of Columbus and Kiwanis Club |
| Current Public Role | Hicksville Water District commissioner; also listed as secretary of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce board |
Early Life and Background
Nicholas J. Brigandi was raised in Hicksville, New York, the Long Island community where he later built his career and family life. Theresa Caputo’s official biography identifies Nicholas and Veronica Brigandi as her parents and says she was born and raised in Hicksville. The same family connection is documented by the Kiwanis Club of Hicksville, which has recognized both Nicholas and Veronica in connection with the organization.
Publicly available records do not provide a sufficiently authoritative account of Brigandi’s childhood, education or early family history to support more detailed claims. Some entertainment websites have published additional biographical details, including a specific birth date, but those details are not necessary to understand his documented public career and are not consistently supported by primary sources.
Career in Public Service
Brigandi’s professional life was closely connected to Nassau County and the Hicksville area. Historical local reporting records him working for the Nassau County Department of Public Works while also being active in the Hicksville Fire Department. A 1989 Hicksville publication described him as secretary of the Hicksville Board of Water Commissioners and noted his longstanding involvement with the fire department.
His work with the Hicksville Water District became the most significant part of his public career. According to the New York State Senate, Brigandi began serving on the Board of Water Commissioners in 1980. The Hicksville Water District later described him as its longest-serving commissioner and credited him with being involved in the study, design and development of its water-treatment facilities.
The district’s own records show Brigandi serving in leadership positions over the years. In 2017, for example, the Hicksville Water District’s newsletter listed him as secretary of the Board of Commissioners and stated that he had served on the board for almost four decades.
His involvement has continued well beyond the earlier decades of his career. In 2026, the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association reported that Nicholas Brigandi was re-elected as a Hicksville Water District commissioner and began a new three-year term on January 1, 2026.
Hicksville Water District Legacy
One of the clearest indications of Brigandi’s importance to the community came in August 2017, when Hicksville Water District Plant #5 was officially renamed the Nicholas J. Brigandi Water Treatment Facility.
The dedication recognized his long service as a water commissioner. The district said Brigandi had become its longest-serving commissioner and had worked closely with the district’s water supply system and treatment facilities. New York State Senator Elaine Phillips also attended the ceremony and publicly praised his years of community service.
The honor is notable because it connects Brigandi’s name directly to a piece of public infrastructure serving the Hicksville community. Rather than being recognized solely because of his connection to a television personality, he received the naming honor for his own record of local government and water-service work.
His responsibilities also included practical issues affecting residents. In 2016, while serving as chairman of the Hicksville Water District Board of Commissioners, Brigandi addressed the district’s annual hydrant-flushing program and explained its purpose in maintaining the water distribution system.
Fire Department Service
Long before his daughter became a television personality, Brigandi had established a significant connection with the Hicksville Fire Department. The Hicksville Water District reported in 2017 that he had spent 50 years as a volunteer with Engine Company #7. At that time, he was serving as the department’s sergeant at arms and participating on its Finance, Welfare and Drill Committees.
Historical records provide further evidence of his longstanding involvement. A 1989 local publication identified Brigandi as an active member of the Hicksville Fire Department and reported that he had been involved with the department for approximately 30 years at that point.
The Kiwanis Club of Hicksville has also highlighted Brigandi’s commitment to community service. Its current membership records list him as a member since 2008 and identify him as a director. The organization also established the Nicholas J. Brigandi Spirit of Giving Award, with Brigandi himself listed as its October 2012 recipient.
Relationship With Theresa Caputo
Nicholas J. Brigandi is the father of Theresa Caputo, whose television career made the Brigandi family familiar to a much wider audience. Theresa identifies her parents as Nick and Ronnie and has spoken publicly about her close relationship with them.
Theresa Caputo was born Theresa Brigandi and grew up in Hicksville with her parents and brother Michael. Her father’s community-service background forms an important part of the family history behind the television personality’s upbringing.
Brigandi has occasionally appeared in coverage related to his daughter’s personal and professional life. In a 2014 interview, for example, he publicly commented on Theresa’s marriage and defended her against criticism surrounding her work as a medium.
He also appeared alongside Theresa in the context of her television work years later. Coverage of Theresa Caputo: Raising Spirits described a scene in which Theresa performed a reading while her father was present, illustrating that he has occasionally appeared in his daughter’s television world despite maintaining his own life outside entertainment.
Family Life
Brigandi’s wife is Veronica Brigandi, whom Theresa refers to as her mother. The couple’s family includes Theresa and her brother Michael. The Kiwanis Club of Hicksville has also publicly recognized Veronica as an honorary member and has featured photographs of Nicholas and Veronica together at community events.
Beyond those publicly established relationships, relatively little reliable information is available about Brigandi’s private family life. Because he has not pursued a career in entertainment, details about his personal activities, finances and private affairs are far less documented than those of his daughter.
Nicholas J. Brigandi Today
As of 2026, Brigandi remains publicly connected to the Hicksville Water District. The Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association reported that he was re-elected as a Hicksville Water District commissioner for a new three-year term beginning January 1, 2026. The Hicksville Water District also continues to bear his name through the Nicholas J. Brigandi Water Treatment Facility.
His continuing involvement makes his story unusual among celebrity parents. Although the public may know him primarily because of Theresa Caputo, his documented career predates her television fame by decades and has remained rooted in local government, water service and volunteer firefighting.
Interesting Facts About Nicholas J. Brigandi
- He is Theresa Caputo’s father. Theresa was born Theresa Brigandi and grew up in Hicksville, New York.
- He served as a Hicksville water commissioner beginning in 1980. His tenure eventually became one of the longest in the district’s history.
- A Hicksville water-treatment facility bears his name. Plant #5 was renamed the Nicholas J. Brigandi Water Treatment Facility in 2017.
- He devoted decades to the Hicksville Fire Department. The water district reported 50 years of volunteer service by 2017.
- The Kiwanis Club of Hicksville created a Spirit of Giving Award in his name. Brigandi received the award in October 2012.
- He remained active in local water administration in 2026. He was reported as re-elected to another three-year term as a Hicksville Water District commissioner.
FAQs About Nicholas J. Brigandi
Who is Nicholas J. Brigandi?
Nicholas J. Brigandi is a longtime Hicksville, New York public servant and the father of television personality Theresa Caputo. His documented career includes extensive service as a Hicksville Water District commissioner and volunteer firefighter.
Is Nicholas J. Brigandi Theresa Caputo’s father?
Yes. Theresa Caputo’s official website identifies Nicholas, known as Nick, and Veronica, known as Ronnie, as her parents.
What did Nicholas J. Brigandi do for a living?
Brigandi’s public career included work with the Nassau County Department of Public Works and decades of service as a Hicksville Water District commissioner. He also spent many years as a volunteer firefighter with the Hicksville Fire Department.
When did Nicholas J. Brigandi become a water commissioner?
According to the New York State Senate and Hicksville Water District, Brigandi began serving on the Hicksville Board of Water Commissioners in 1980.
Is there a building named after Nicholas J. Brigandi?
Yes. In 2017, Hicksville Water District Plant #5 was officially renamed the Nicholas J. Brigandi Water Treatment Facility in recognition of his long service to the district and community.
Is Nicholas J. Brigandi still a water commissioner?
Yes. The Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association reported that Brigandi was re-elected as a Hicksville Water District commissioner for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2026.
What is known about Nicholas J. Brigandi’s family?
His wife is Veronica Brigandi, and they have two children publicly identified as Theresa Caputo and Michael Brigandi. Theresa has frequently spoken about her close relationship with her parents.
Conclusion
Nicholas J. Brigandi’s public identity extends well beyond being Theresa Caputo’s father. His documented record includes decades of volunteer firefighting, long-term service on the Hicksville Water District Board and continued involvement in local water administration. The naming of a Hicksville water-treatment facility in his honor in 2017 reflects the significance of that service. With his reported re-election to the water district board in 2026, Brigandi remains connected to the community he has served for much of his adult life.
