From bill feather
RAPPA-FILIPPO 1888 Borgetto, Sicily / USA 1925.
Our only source for this member is Bill Bonanno’s book, The Last Testament [2011]. From Borgetto, a village in Palermo Province, he entered America in 1925. He was travelling with a relative of the same name, but 5 years younger. Seems to have settled on East 15th Street, on the LES of Manhattan. Little is known of his early activities, but by the 1930’s he owned a Coat company in Brooklyn and was a power in the Garment district. Joseph Bonanno was also a partner in this firm. His only known arrest was for a Wage Violation in 1941. According to Bill Bonanno’s book, Rappa was the Family Consigliere from 1932 till 1939. He spent some time back in Italy, as the 1940 Census lists his home in 1935 as Sicily. Replaced as Consigliere by John Tartamella in 1940. Rappa was killed in 1944, for unknown reasons.
Does anyone know, why a high ranking member of one family was killed?
Rappa’s murder
Moderator: Capos