The 58-year-old's son Grant said yesterday his family was struggling to believe that an "horrific act of nature" had taken his life.
"The family is absolutely devastated," he said. "We've lost the most loving and caring man in the entire universe.
"I don't think we'll ever recover from this."
But he said they were trying to draw some comfort from knowing that his daily walk with his black kelpie around local parks and the river was his favourite thing to do.
The loyal dog would not leave Mr Capriotti's side as bystanders and police officers tried in vain to help him after he collapsed at Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary about 6.20pm.
It is believed he died almost instantly but Juke was not injured. Mr Capriotti was found lying near a tree.
Nearby residents said severe weather had affected the area that night.
"There was a big crack of thunder that sounded like it came from overhead," resident Jess said.
Police said another dog walker saw Mr Capriotti and called emergency services.
Mr Capriotti, who was married with three adult children, worked at the Centre for Cerebral Palsy in WA.
A former WAFL player, he also umpired Sunday league matches but had retired from umpiring duties, his son said.
Several electrical storms have hit Perth in recent days, sparking dangerous fires and causing blackouts.
Four people were taken to hospital on Thursday after being injured in separate lightning strikes.
A Gold Coast father died in hospital on Saturday after he was struck by lightning while he and his family sheltered in a gazebo at a park during an electrical storm.
His wife and two young children had minor injuries.
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