Visiting Pittsburgh 1963

[B.]

Here's where I got the idea John Cancellieri had a son named Sam who died in the 1940s:



Re-reading it, it only says "Sam" was the father of Cancellieri's grandsons so it could have referred to a son-in-law, or the informant was mistaken.

[Antiliar]

I only claim to match the John Cancellieri in the newspaper article, which seemed like it could be a match for the FBI file. It's very possible that there's another one that's not coming up in the searches. CC posted this earlier, but the timeline doesn't seem to fit with the FBI file. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151 ... ancelliere

[Angelo Santino]

Mentions John and Sam as grandsons of "old" John Cancelleri, I don't think he would have been old enough to have grandchildren in the 60's who were adult members/associates.

cancellieri.PNG

[B.]

The old John Cancellieri could be the same as Jack. Jack Cancellieri owned the Rosa Villa restaurant and the FBI report about old John Cancellieri says he was the Rosa Villa owner as well. Jack died in 1962 and the informant thought John died in 1965 which isn't that far off.

Jack's true name was Giacomo but we know Jack is often a nickname for John so maybe he used both names or someone confused them.

If I have the right one, Salvatore Carmelo DiBella was born Apr 4, 1890, in Caltanisetta. Died Jan 24, 1945, Pittsburgh.

That's the right one. He was from Calascibetta which is now in Enna. May have been historically part of Caltanissetta.

DiBella was an in-law of Orazio Leone from Valledolmo who was an important guy in early Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Since Tony Pinelli of Chicago was tied to Capizzi & Pittsburgh via the Villarosa/Calascibetta connection, I'd guess Leone was acquainted with D'Andrea of Chicago based on the Valledolmo/Buffalo tie.

[Antiliar]

Orazio Leone and the Catalano brothers (J. C. and Joseph) were arrested as suspects for killing Gregorio Conti in 1919. Shortly before the murder Leone, DiBella and Nick Gentile were convicted of conspiracy by misrepresenting their credit worthiness to purchase food and supplies. Could be related to what Conti was later killed for.

[Antiliar]

Getting back to the Cancellieres, I don't see a Sam/Salvatore/Samuel in any of their genealogies:

Giacomo "Jack" Cancellieri death article:

Pittsburgh Press 1962Aug25 Giacomo Cancellieri dies.jpg

His obituary:

Pittsburgh Press 1962Aug26 Giacomo Cancellieri obit.jpg

John Cancellieri (here spelled Cancillieri) also didn't have any children named Sam:

Pittsburgh Press 1968Jun29 John Cancillieri obit.jpg

[Stroccos]

What about jimmy prato in Youngstown ?

[PolackTony]

If I have the right one, Salvatore Carmelo DiBella was born Apr 4, 1890, in Caltanisetta. Died Jan 24, 1945, Pittsburgh.

That's the right one. He was from Calascibetta which is now in Enna. May have been historically part of Caltanissetta.

DiBella was an in-law of Orazio Leone from Valledolmo who was an important guy in early Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Since Tony Pinelli of Chicago was tied to Capizzi & Pittsburgh via the Villarosa/Calascibetta connection, I'd guess Leone was acquainted with D'Andrea of Chicago based on the Valledolmo/Buffalo tie.

Correct, Calascibetta was part of Caltanissetta before the creation of Enna province in 1927. Same as Villarosa.

Posted in a Chicago thread already, but Pinelli was also linked personally to LaRocco and Kelly Mannarino, who were visiting him in Gary and allegedly staying at a hotel there on Pinelli’s dime. Looks like some other possible connections existed in Gary to the Pitt family territory with some mainlander guys as well. Pinelli’s associate, Gaetano Morgano, who for all we know was an acting captain or something for Pinelli while the latter was in CA, was also from Calascibetta and was later deported back to Sicily.

[Angelo Santino]

So for bosses

LaRocca - 1956
Amato - 1937-1956 - I'd like to know the source for this, if true his career went from under to boss back to under.
Capizzi - 1932-1937
Bazzano - 1931-1932
Siracusa - ? - 1931
Monastero - 1925-1929
?
LaPaglia - 1924
?
Gaetano Conte - 1919-1920
Gregorio Conte - ?-1913 - 1919
?
Lima - ? - 1910

Something to note- Aragona and Comintini (Conte) are neighboring towns, modern Mafia charts label them as one Family spread out between both cities. During this time (1900-1920) you had Trabia (Lima) and Monastero (New Orleans). In the early 1900's I have people that came from San Francisco, I disrecall the name. All this points to Pittsburgh likely existing much earlier back into the 1800's.

[B.]

Didn't know Aragona and Comitini were one Family, makes sense with the small size.

I also think you're on to something w/ Lima as 1910 boss. More on that another time.

[PolackTony]

.
All this points to Pittsburgh likely existing much earlier back into the 1800's.

1885 “Trunk Murder” in Chicago. They killed a guy who strongly fits the profile of a mafioso, from Tèrmini Imerese. Stuffed his corpse in a luggage trunk and sent it on a train to… Pittsburgh.

[Antiliar]

So for bosses

LaRocca - 1956
Amato - 1937-1956 - I'd like to know the source for this, if true his career went from under to boss back to under.
Capizzi - 1932-1937
Bazzano - 1931-1932
Siracusa - ? - 1931
Monastero - 1925-1929
?
LaPaglia - 1924
?
Gaetano Conte - 1919-1920
Gregorio Conte - ?-1913 - 1919
?
Lima - ? - 1910

Something to note- Aragona and Comintini (Conte) are neighboring towns, modern Mafia charts label them as one Family spread out between both cities. During this time (1900-1920) you had Trabia (Lima) and Monastero (New Orleans). In the early 1900's I have people that came from San Francisco, I disrecall the name. All this points to Pittsburgh likely existing much earlier back into the 1800's.

What about Salvatore Calderone? Don't we suppose that he was a boss prior to Gregorio Conti?

[B.]

Yeah, seems like Calderone may have been an ex-boss who served as secretary/chairman of the Pittsburgh consiglio under Conte.

[Angelo Santino]

Yes, forgot about him. He was either from 1910-1913 or Lima was never the Rep of Pittsburgh, perhaps he was just a decina boss.

[FriendofHenry]

So for bosses

LaRocca - 1956
Amato - 1937-1956 - I'd like to know the source for this, if true his career went from under to boss back to under.
Capizzi - 1932-1937
Bazzano - 1931-1932
Siracusa - ? - 1931
Monastero - 1925-1929
?
LaPaglia - 1924
?
Gaetano Conte - 1919-1920
Gregorio Conte - ?-1913 - 1919
?
Lima - ? - 1910

Something to note- Aragona and Comintini (Conte) are neighboring towns, modern Mafia charts label them as one Family spread out between both cities. During this time (1900-1920) you had Trabia (Lima) and Monastero (New Orleans). In the early 1900's I have people that came from San Francisco, I disrecall the name. All this points to Pittsburgh likely existing much earlier back into the 1800's.

Go figure, all this time I thought Michael Genovese succeeded John LaRocca as Boss. Then again, what would I know about Pittsburgh