by B. » Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:43 pm
Some info on obscure short-lived soldier Robert Lumio:
- Grew up in Philadelphia, living in South Jersey by the early 1960s. Friend of Frank Gerace since high school.
- Made his rounds as a popular bartender and nightclub manager, primarily in the Atlantic City area.
- Earlier in the 1960s worked at the Tradewinds then in the mid-1960s become manager at the Fort Pitt nightclub in Atlantic City. Lumio's position at the club put him in contact with popular musical acts of the era.
- In 1971, the daughter of "Diamond Lil" Lillian Reis' was opening a nightclub called the Celebrity Room, named after the infamous club Lil Reis and her boyfriend Junior Staino previously operated, and Bobby Lumio was going to be the manager. It's unclear if this panned out. Later, Junior Staino's nephew Anthony Staino would be an official for Local 54, which held Lumio as its treasurer until his 1981 death so there is another connection.
- Busted in 1973 on a federal gambling arrest for sports betting w/ Gary Garramone, Albert Catalano Jr., Emilio Tramontino Jr., resulting in a 1974 conviction. Garramone was involved with union scams as well, running a consulting company dealing with dental benefits.
- Later in the 1970s Lumio worked as bartender at Saul Kane's "My Way" lounge, a well-known mob hangout where the Scarfo crew operated from.
- Began living in the Scarfo apartment building by the later 1970s. Frank Gerace's mother also lived in the Scarfo building and both Lumio and Gerace regularly met and socialized with Scarfo given their proximity.
- Became secretary-treasurer for Local 54 in 1979. Lumio had no labor union experience, having been working as a bartender immediately prior to his appointment. Technically appointed by his close friend Frank Gerace, though Scarfo boasted that he was responsible for appointing both Lumio and Gerace. Joseph Salerno, who lived in the Scarfo apartments as well during this time, testified that he heard Scarfo regularly berate Lumio, even in front of others. Lumio was described as an independent-minded individual and union decisions he made without consulting Scarfo were often the source of Scarfo's anger. Note that this was prior to Lumio's induction as a made member.
- Phil Leonetti, who also lived in the building and was inducted alongside Lumio, described Lumio as a cousin of Angelo Bruno in his testimony. It appears "Lumio" is a variation of the name Lumia, a name commonly found in Villalba, Angelo Bruno's hometown. While I can't confirm the details, Lumio's family likely came from Villalba which lends itself to Leonetti's statement.
- Despite the alleged relationship to Angelo Bruno, Lumio appears to have been an associate in the Scarfo crew from at least the late 1970s onward while Bruno was still alive with no indication that he was particularly close to Bruno, though much about Lumio remains unknown.
- It isn't clear if Lumio was still a resident of the Scarfo building at the time of his induction, but this induction ceremony is interesting as four of the attendees were either still living or had been living until recently in the same small apartment building; this would be the inductees Lumio, Leonetti, and Lawrence Merlino, along with consigliere Scarfo.
- Lumio was still the treasurer of Local 54 at the time of his death. He was replaced by family associate Albert Daidone, who was close to Long John Martorano. Scarfo immediately proposed Daidone for mafia membership following Lumio's death and Daidone's appointment, indicating to Leonetti that it was important to have a made member in this position. However, Daidone would not be inducted given his conviction alongside Martorano for the McCullough murder.
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Random stuff on Frank Monte and Belmonte Mezzagno:
- Frank Monte's grandfather came to Philadelphia from Belmonte Mezzagno, Sicily, like the Scafidis, Casellas, Cappellos, and Barrales.
- Monte grew up in the house of his grandfather with neighbors who emigrated from Belmonte alongside the elder Monte. Though these neighbors have no known mafia affiliation it nonetheless shows that this was a close-knit, if not related group of paesani.
- The Belmonte background could be one reason Monte was close to Rocco Scafidi, their close friendship being evident through Scafidi's cooperation with the FBI. Monte may have become associated with Phil Testa when Testa was a soldier in the crew of Gaetano Scafidi, Rocco's father. Perhaps coincidentally, Scafidi was taken off the shelf and reinstated into the family at the same induction ceremony where Monte was inducted.
- Like countless other Philadelphia members, Monte worked at bars in South Jersey and Philadelphia, later working at Phil Testa's restaurant Virgilio's.
- As has been mentioned before, Rocco Scafidi provided info to the FBI that indicated Felix DeTullio had a close relationship with the Belmontesi members in South Jersey and buried murder victims at Cheech Barrale's farm, which was also used for early family meetings. This relationship carried over to DeTullio's protege Nicky Scarfo, who as a soldier had a gambling partnership in the Vineland area with Barrale relatives Joseph and Samuel Scafidi. Scarfo also committed the murder of Dominick "Reds" Caruso at a Vineland bar owned by Joseph Scafidi's brother-in-law, soldier Anthony Perella. Scarfo of course was also very close with Frank Monte, with Monte replacing Scarfo as consigliere when Scarfo became boss.
- Another member who appears to have had heritage from Belmonte Mezzagno was Salvatore "Shotsie" Sparacio. Though there are no known indications that he was close to the other Belmontesi, Sparacio closely associated with Scarfo cousin and soldier Tony Piccolo prior to his induction and through their time as family leaders under Stanfa. Just sort of interesting that despite hype about the "Calabrians vs. Sicilians" (which was a real rivalry), we have examples of the Belmontesi, who formed the core of the Sicilian group, having close friendships with key members of the Calabrian group spanning decades.
[b]Some info on obscure short-lived soldier Robert Lumio:[/b]
- Grew up in Philadelphia, living in South Jersey by the early 1960s. Friend of Frank Gerace since high school.
- Made his rounds as a popular bartender and nightclub manager, primarily in the Atlantic City area.
- Earlier in the 1960s worked at the Tradewinds then in the mid-1960s become manager at the Fort Pitt nightclub in Atlantic City. Lumio's position at the club put him in contact with popular musical acts of the era.
- In 1971, the daughter of "Diamond Lil" Lillian Reis' was opening a nightclub called the Celebrity Room, named after the infamous club Lil Reis and her boyfriend Junior Staino previously operated, and Bobby Lumio was going to be the manager. It's unclear if this panned out. Later, Junior Staino's nephew Anthony Staino would be an official for Local 54, which held Lumio as its treasurer until his 1981 death so there is another connection.
- Busted in 1973 on a federal gambling arrest for sports betting w/ Gary Garramone, Albert Catalano Jr., Emilio Tramontino Jr., resulting in a 1974 conviction. Garramone was involved with union scams as well, running a consulting company dealing with dental benefits.
- Later in the 1970s Lumio worked as bartender at Saul Kane's "My Way" lounge, a well-known mob hangout where the Scarfo crew operated from.
- Began living in the Scarfo apartment building by the later 1970s. Frank Gerace's mother also lived in the Scarfo building and both Lumio and Gerace regularly met and socialized with Scarfo given their proximity.
- Became secretary-treasurer for Local 54 in 1979. Lumio had no labor union experience, having been working as a bartender immediately prior to his appointment. Technically appointed by his close friend Frank Gerace, though Scarfo boasted that he was responsible for appointing both Lumio and Gerace. Joseph Salerno, who lived in the Scarfo apartments as well during this time, testified that he heard Scarfo regularly berate Lumio, even in front of others. Lumio was described as an independent-minded individual and union decisions he made without consulting Scarfo were often the source of Scarfo's anger. Note that this was prior to Lumio's induction as a made member.
- Phil Leonetti, who also lived in the building and was inducted alongside Lumio, described Lumio as a cousin of Angelo Bruno in his testimony. It appears "Lumio" is a variation of the name Lumia, a name commonly found in Villalba, Angelo Bruno's hometown. While I can't confirm the details, Lumio's family likely came from Villalba which lends itself to Leonetti's statement.
- Despite the alleged relationship to Angelo Bruno, Lumio appears to have been an associate in the Scarfo crew from at least the late 1970s onward while Bruno was still alive with no indication that he was particularly close to Bruno, though much about Lumio remains unknown.
- It isn't clear if Lumio was still a resident of the Scarfo building at the time of his induction, but this induction ceremony is interesting as four of the attendees were either still living or had been living until recently in the same small apartment building; this would be the inductees Lumio, Leonetti, and Lawrence Merlino, along with consigliere Scarfo.
- Lumio was still the treasurer of Local 54 at the time of his death. He was replaced by family associate Albert Daidone, who was close to Long John Martorano. Scarfo immediately proposed Daidone for mafia membership following Lumio's death and Daidone's appointment, indicating to Leonetti that it was important to have a made member in this position. However, Daidone would not be inducted given his conviction alongside Martorano for the McCullough murder.
--
[b]Random stuff on Frank Monte and Belmonte Mezzagno:[/b]
- Frank Monte's grandfather came to Philadelphia from Belmonte Mezzagno, Sicily, like the Scafidis, Casellas, Cappellos, and Barrales.
- Monte grew up in the house of his grandfather with neighbors who emigrated from Belmonte alongside the elder Monte. Though these neighbors have no known mafia affiliation it nonetheless shows that this was a close-knit, if not related group of paesani.
- The Belmonte background could be one reason Monte was close to Rocco Scafidi, their close friendship being evident through Scafidi's cooperation with the FBI. Monte may have become associated with Phil Testa when Testa was a soldier in the crew of Gaetano Scafidi, Rocco's father. Perhaps coincidentally, Scafidi was taken off the shelf and reinstated into the family at the same induction ceremony where Monte was inducted.
- Like countless other Philadelphia members, Monte worked at bars in South Jersey and Philadelphia, later working at Phil Testa's restaurant Virgilio's.
- As has been mentioned before, Rocco Scafidi provided info to the FBI that indicated Felix DeTullio had a close relationship with the Belmontesi members in South Jersey and buried murder victims at Cheech Barrale's farm, which was also used for early family meetings. This relationship carried over to DeTullio's protege Nicky Scarfo, who as a soldier had a gambling partnership in the Vineland area with Barrale relatives Joseph and Samuel Scafidi. Scarfo also committed the murder of Dominick "Reds" Caruso at a Vineland bar owned by Joseph Scafidi's brother-in-law, soldier Anthony Perella. Scarfo of course was also very close with Frank Monte, with Monte replacing Scarfo as consigliere when Scarfo became boss.
- Another member who appears to have had heritage from Belmonte Mezzagno was Salvatore "Shotsie" Sparacio. Though there are no known indications that he was close to the other Belmontesi, Sparacio closely associated with Scarfo cousin and soldier Tony Piccolo prior to his induction and through their time as family leaders under Stanfa. Just sort of interesting that despite hype about the "Calabrians vs. Sicilians" (which was a real rivalry), we have examples of the Belmontesi, who formed the core of the Sicilian group, having close friendships with key members of the Calabrian group spanning decades.