Wiseguys of Pugliese Ancestry

[PolackTony]

Pugliesi were a significant portion of Italian migration to the US, and while the region historically lacked an autochtonous Mafia tradition of its own, Pugliesi and their descendants did join American Mafia families. Like the rest of the Mezzogiorno, Puglia was a poor region with brigandage and other forms of criminal activity, and the northern section of Puglia (Foggia, Bari, part of Taranto) share a broader cultural and linguistic affinity with Napuletani.

While Pugliesi seem to have been particularly well-represented in Chicago, I don't have the familiarity with other cities to ascertain whether their relative numbers actually exceeded other families. I'll list mob guys (made guys or associates) that I've verified with ancestry from Puglia here, and I hope that others can comment and add more. I'm happy to update this thread if the mods wish to grant me this power.

Genovese
Gaetano "Tony Goebbels" Ricci (Foggia)

Chicago
Giovanni Di Fronzo (Capurso, Bari), and brothers Pete and Joe
Giuseppe Lombardi/Joseph Patrick Lombardo (father from Triggiano, Bari; mother from Ceglie del Campo, Bari).
Anthony Spilotro (father from Triggiano, Bari), and brothers
Frank and Nick Calabrese (father from Mola di, Bari)
James Vincent "Jimmy Boy" Cozzo (maternal grandfather from Modugno, Bari)
Vito James Nitti (father from Triggiano, Bari)
Nick Nitti (father from Triggiano, Bari)
Richard and Arthur Bravieri Jr (mother's family from Bitritto, Bari)
Joseph Dominic "Joe Spa" Spadavecchio (father from Bari, Bari).
Dominic Joseph Senese (father from Ripacandida, Bari)
Marco D'Amico (mother from Foggia)
Thomas Forliano (father's family probably from Bari)
Michael Malmenato (father's family probably from Bitritto, Bari)

[PolackTony]

Tony Ricci I believe was born in Vieste, Foggia in 1893.

[scagghiuni]

johnny torrio?

[SantoClaus]

He was involved in Canadian OC, but Rocco Sollecito was from Bari.

[PolackTony]

johnny torrio?

Torrio was Lucano (born in Irsina/Montepeloso, Matera).

[scagghiuni]

johnny torrio?

Torrio was Lucano (born in Irsina/Montepeloso, Matera).

is it official or just wikipedia assumptions?

[PolackTony]

johnny torrio?

Torrio was Lucano (born in Irsina/Montepeloso, Matera).

is it official or just wikipedia assumptions?

Per his petition for naturalization. FWIW I wouldn't be stating it unless I have documentary evidence.

[Moscone65]

I believe Paul Volpe in Toronto had family from foggia. Also, the cassano brothers in Chicago have Barese ancestry as well as the DiNunzio’s in Boston.

[Moscone65]

Also frank cullotta was Barese on his moms side.

[PolackTony]

Also frank cullotta was Barese on his moms side.

Correct, I forgot to put Cullotta in there.

[PolackTony]

I believe Paul Volpe in Toronto had family from foggia. Also, the cassano brothers in Chicago have Barese ancestry as well as the DiNunzio’s in Boston.

Thanks for the reminder on the DiNunzio Bros, who of course also had their connections to Chicago on the Westcoast.

[Moscone65]

I believe Paul Volpe in Toronto had family from foggia. Also, the cassano brothers in Chicago have Barese ancestry as well as the DiNunzio’s in Boston.

Thanks for the reminder on the DiNunzio Bros, who of course also had their connections to Chicago on the Westcoast.

Your welcome, thanks for the thread, I appreciate when Barese mafiosi are discussed

[Moscone65]

Seems to me most of the grand avenue guys were Barese or atleast part Barese. And ya our dialect is kinda similar to napuletan but a lot more “fucked up” lol, I love Barese

[scagghiuni]

johnny torrio maybe was born in lucania but his parents were from the province of bari, he just was born over there, as vito genovese was born near naples but his parents were from sicily

[PolackTony]

johnny torrio maybe was born in lucania but his parents were from the province of bari, he just was born over there, as vito genovese was born near naples but his parents were from sicily

You're right about Torrio's (born Donato Torrio) parents, thanks. His parents were Tommaso Torrio and Maria Carluccio of Altamura, Bari. His father was working for the railroad and apparently, this is why Torrio was born in Irsina (at the time called Montepeloso). His father died when Torrio was about two and the family emigrated to New York where Maria married Salvatore Caputo of Casabona, Crotone, Calabria (it's my understanding that this was where Torrio got his connection to Victoria Moresco and Colosimo).

http://www.letteremeridiane.org/2015/05 ... rio-padre/


So Torrio warrants being included as Barese (and culturally part Calabrese I suppose).