What do We Know about the Newark Family?

[JoelTurner]

Here's some interesting info on Gambino member Vincent Todaro:

- Though he was too young to have been a member, he was likely an associate of the Newark Family. His early arrests, under the name Frank Todaro, were for liquor in the Vineland area. In 1940, he was the Frank A. Todaro indicted with Sam Accardi and Frank DeCavalcante

- His family was from San Cipirello and lived at 29 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, NJ.

- His sister Domenica "Mille" Todaro married Charles Matranga.

- His father Andrea's naturalization was witnessed by Benedetto Grippi, son of Bonanno member Salvatore Grippi

[JoelTurner]

Here's some info on Bill Molinaro, mobster who claimed to be a Cleveland member "loaned out" to the DeCavalcante group:

- Born as CAMILLIO MOLINARO on Oct 6 1914 (or Oct 16) to Legiadro Molinaro (Tufo, Avellino, Campania) and Georgiana "Virginia" Mengozzi in Orange, NJ

- His sister EDITH MOLINARO, born Jun 10 1907 - Orange, NJ, was married to Gambino member MICHAEL 'SKINNY MIKE' PECORARO. His father Giovanni had been an important figure in the Morello organization before being killed in 1923.

- Sister to Mike, MARIANA PECORARO, was married to MARCO LIMANDRI. Both of their families would later move to southern California

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Mike Pecoraro lived in NJ for a while.

He lived at 20 Hewitt Ave, Belleville, NJ. This was about a minute away from where the LiMandri family lived (679 Belleville Ave, Belleville, NJ). He may have also lived in Kearny, NJ for some time. Both his FIL's naturalization and an article about an arrest reference that city.

In addition to a bootlegging pinch alongside LiMandri and his SIL Frank Fiorello, he was also arrested for liquor with future Philadelphia member Fred Salerno in 1941.

[JoelTurner]

The Joseph Canelle mentioned was likely Joseph Cannella.

Here’s a better look at Joseph Cannella

His naturalization was witnessed by Benjamin Grippi & Antonio Galati

On Oct 11 1926, he was arrested at a liquor still with Mauro Cossentino & Antonio Galati

(https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/220918515/)

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They were a part of a larger bootlegging ring. Here’s who was in this group:

- Antonio Galati (May 29 1889 - San Cipirello): In addition to his bootlegging, he was also involved a money printer scam. He lived at 148 Heckel St, Belleville, NJ.

Marco LiMandri lived a few houses away (195 Heckel St, Belleville, NJ). His wife Mary Pecoraro, daughter of Morello Family figure Giovanni Pecoraro, was also from San Cipirello.

- Pasquale Mutarielli (Feb 19 1887 - Salerno, Campania): Known as “The King of Bootleggers”, his home was bombed on Sep 3 1926. He disappeared after this incident, appears to have moved Philadelphia living at 401 E Haines St.

- Gaetano Napolitano (Jun 23 1889 - Marigliano): Partnered with Mutarielli, he was murdered via shotgun on Sep 23 1926

- Michael Calabrese (Feb 18 1898 - Villarosa, Enna, Sicily): Born to Pietro & Teresa Calabrese, he was married to Josephine Rispoli. Could have been related to Galati’s wife Rosina Calabrese. Lived at 16 Bloomfield Ave, Belleville, NJ; this was diagonal to Salvatore Grippi’s home.

- Mauro Conssentino (Nov 10 1898 - Marigliano): Lived at 84 N 15th St, East Orange, NJ. Married to Rachela Palma from Tito

- Ernest Distefano [Couldn’t find a match]

Galati, Calabrese, and Distefano were arrested of for the murder of Napolitano.

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1) Between traveling with Salvatore Mangiaracina on his last trip before his “disappearance” and all these naturalizations, Benjamin Grippi looks like he was really connected to this group.

2) Napolitano & Cossentino’s shared hometown of Marigliano is interesting too; Richie Boiardo was from there. There is a possibility that these men could have a Camorra background.

[Woofinator]

The surname Calabrese seemed familiar to me. Nicolo's Schiro's business partner (or employee?) in his Real Estate business was named Vincent John Calabrese. Vincent Calabrese was also the witness on Schiro's 1923 passport application.

However, I checked and it turned out to be just a coincidence. Vincent Calabrese was born in Brooklyn but according to Vincent's father's (Gioacchino Calabrese) naturalization, his father was born in Palermo. I did find these newspaper articles mentioning Vincent J. Calabrese:

Vincent J. Calabrese arrested for fake revenue seals The_Brooklyn_Daily_Eagle_Sat__Feb_4__1922_pg. 7.jpg

Calabrese arrested for fake revenue seals from page 7 of the 04 Feb. 1922 Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Notice the 441 Marcy Ave. address, Schiro's business address.

Nicolo Schiro summons The_Brooklyn_Citizen_Fri__Sep_4__1931_pg. 10.jpg

A newspaper ad for a judicial summons for Nicolo Schiro from page 10 of the 04 Sept. 1931 Brooklyn Citizen. Now Schiro had already fled by this time and obviously wouldn't be making a court appearance. But one of the other defendants listed is Vincent Calabrese.

There's a photograph of 441 Marcy Ave. taken in 1931 that's on the New York City Historical Society's website as a part of their collection of NYC subway construction photos. Here's a cropped version showing the building:

Schiro 441 Marcy Ave 1931 cropped 5d.png

It's the building on the right with the Friel loans ad and the car in front. Now it's a year after Schiro fled, but I think it's good we're able to get at least this since the building was knocked down sometime in the following decade. Here's a link to the NYHS website on the collection if they want to look for more photos:

https://digitalcollections.nyhistory.or ... s%3Asubway

In summary, there's no apparent relationship between Michael and Vincent Calabrese but I went too far down this rabbit hole so I might as well post all this here even if there's nothing here about Newark.

[B.]

Nice work. Even when a lead doesn't pan out it can often produce other leads worth looking into. I appreciate when you post.

[JoelTurner]

The surname Calabrese seemed familiar to me. Nicolo's Schiro's business partner (or employee?) in his Real Estate business was named Vincent John Calabrese. Vincent Calabrese was also the witness on Schiro's 1923 passport application.

However, I checked and it turned out to be just a coincidence. Vincent Calabrese was born in Brooklyn but according to Vincent's father's (Gioacchino Calabrese) naturalization, his father was born in Palermo. I did find these newspaper articles mentioning Vincent J. Calabrese:

Vincent J. Calabrese arrested for fake revenue seals The_Brooklyn_Daily_Eagle_Sat__Feb_4__1922_pg. 7.jpg

Calabrese arrested for fake revenue seals from page 7 of the 04 Feb. 1922 Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Notice the 441 Marcy Ave. address, Schiro's business address.

Nicolo Schiro summons The_Brooklyn_Citizen_Fri__Sep_4__1931_pg. 10.jpg

A newspaper ad for a judicial summons for Nicolo Schiro from page 10 of the 04 Sept. 1931 Brooklyn Citizen. Now Schiro had already fled by this time and obviously wouldn't be making a court appearance. But one of the other defendants listed is Vincent Calabrese.

There's a photograph of 441 Marcy Ave. taken in 1931 that's on the New York City Historical Society's website as a part of their collection of NYC subway construction photos. Here's a cropped version showing the building:

Schiro 441 Marcy Ave 1931 cropped 5d.png

It's the building on the right with the Friel loans ad and the car in front. Now it's a year after Schiro fled, but I think it's good we're able to get at least this since the building was knocked down sometime in the following decade. Here's a link to the NYHS website on the collection if they want to look for more photos:

https://digitalcollections.nyhistory.or ... s%3Asubway

In summary, there's no apparent relationship between Michael and Vincent Calabrese but I went too far down this rabbit hole so I might as well post all this here even if there's nothing here about Newark.

What happened to Vincent Calabrese in later years, post-Schiro’s tenure as boss?

[Woofinator]

Here's what I could find:

In the 1940 census, he's no longer listed as being in the building trade but as a merchant in the flour trade living in Brooklyn.

In the 1950 census, he's listed as the "proprietor of a general merchandise brokerage company" living in Brooklyn.

In 1955 he's arrested for check fraud with a residence given in Baldwin (Long Island) NY. The news articles about it list him as a retired official from a cannery in Long Island City.

Here's his Find A Grave page. Other records say that he was still a resident of Baldwin at or around the time of his death in 1972:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171 ... -calabrese

Here's the article from the 09 Dec. 1955 edition of Newsday about his arrest:

Vincent J. Calabrese arrested Newsday (Suffolk_Edition) 09 Dec 1955_pg. 37.jpg

Here's the article from the 18 Dec. 1956 edition of Newsday where he pleads guilty:

Vincent J. Calabrese pleads guilty to check fraud Newsday (Nassau_Edition) 18 Dec 1956_pg. 28.jpg

[JoelTurner]

FBI file Misuraca p30 - D'Amico.jpg

Newark boss Gaspare D’Amico was attacked by Joe Profaci over his refusal to kill a Salvatore Fontana. I think I figured out who that was:

Salvatore Fontana was born Dec 12 1892 in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Villabate, Sicily to Antonio Fontana & Carmela Giannone

His father Antonio (Jun 16 1866 - Villabate) was born to Giuseppe Fontana & Maria Antonia Shillaci. His sister Carmela Fontana was married to Giovanni Magliocco, father to the Joe Magliocco and Joe Profaci’s FIL.

Essentially, Salvatore Fontana was a first cousin to both the Magliocco bros and their sister/Joe Profaci’s wife Nina.

In fact, he was arrested with Joe & Ambrose Magliocco for liquor on Feb 3 1920:



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I haven’t found anything about his death yet. He was alive as late as Jul 17 1935 when he was arrested alongside Colombo member Ralph “Captain Moon” Sprizza for a bookmaking operation:

[Antiliar]

FBI file Misuraca p30 - D'Amico.jpg

Newark boss Gaspare D’Amico was attacked by Joe Profaci over his refusal to kill a Salvatore Fontana. I think I figured out who that was:

Salvatore Fontana was born Dec 12 1892 in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Villabate, Sicily to Antonio Fontana & Carmela Giannone

His father Antonio (Jun 16 1866 - Villabate) was born to Giuseppe Fontana & Maria Antonia Shillaci. His sister Carmela Fontana was married to Giovanni Magliocco, father to the Joe Magliocco and Joe Profaci’s FIL.

Essentially, Salvatore Fontana was a first cousin to both the Magliocco bros and their sister/Joe Profaci’s wife Nina.

In fact, he was arrested with Joe & Ambrose Magliocco for liquor on Feb 3 1920:



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I haven’t found anything about his death yet. He was alive as late as Jul 17 1935 when he was arrested alongside Colombo member Ralph “Captain Moon” Sprizza for a bookmaking operation:

Good follow-up. Wonder why he would want to hit his own relative? We may never know the answer, but now we know more than we did.

[JoelTurner]

Genovese member Alfonso Marzano lived in Belleville, NJ. He was naturalized there on Sep 18 1928.

However, he would have been there for a short time. His daughter Mary, who later married Genovese member Larry “Chappy” Brescia, was born in NY on Jan 20 1925. By 1929, he was in NYC.

Two interesting connections:

-On Jun 3 1929, he was arrested for forgery alongside Frank Canpano, James Sepio, Andrea Rudi & Ugo Giampaoli.



On Aug 5 1955, Giampaoli was arrested for narcotics alongside Sam Accardi, Aniello Santagata, Christoforo Robino, Angelo Buia, and Matildo Buia

Giampaoli (Apr 6 1894 - Arcola, La Spezia, Liguria), was living in NY by then but had also lived in NJ. His daughter Wanda was born Hudson County, NJ on Oct 24 1933. He was never named as a mafia member afaik

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During his time in NJ, Marzano lived at 13 Frederick St, Belleville, NJ.



In the 1930 census, John Misuraca’s sister Angelina Tinervia lived at that address

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As a Neapolitan born in 1890, Marzano would have fit in with the Mazzochi - Boiardo group

It was previously theorized that Santagata may have been a Camorra member. I wonder if Marzano could have taken a similar path before joining the mafia.

He was listed as being in Mike Miranda’s crew. They had other ex-Camorra members so it’s not inconceivable

[JoelTurner]

—

Rose Malanga witnessed Catherine D’Amico’a naturalization

Catherine was boss Gaspare D’Amico’s sister

Rose Malanga (née Nisovaccia) was the matriarch of the Malanaga family.
- Daughter Grace married Gambino capo Anthony Paterno
- Sons William & Alfred were Gambino members
- Son John AKA "Jeff Lane" was a part of the Boiardo gang before being killed by them.

Several of her lesser-known sons & nephews were also involved in crime.

Seeing that essentially their whole family was involved in crime, I wonder if her husband Salvatore Malanaga was a Newark family member.

[JoelTurner]

On Sep 8 1931, a garment factory (838 Main Ave, Passaic, NJ) was stormed and trashed. They were attacked for being a non-union shop.

Here’s who was arrested:

Thomas Campisi (21 Bedford St, Newark, NJ) Future Genovese member

Joseph Accardi (354 S 7th St, Newark, NJ) Future Lucchese member

Joseph Troia (29 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, NJ) This was the Todaro family home. Their son Vincent became a Gambino member & daughter Domenica married Charles Matranga

Jack Lapocolo (334 North Twelfth street, Newark, NJ) He was married to Charles Matranga’s sister Mary. His naturalization was witnessed by Bonanno member Thomas Scardino

James Mosselimo (57 N 12th St, Newark, NJ) There wasn’t anyone named “Mosselimo”. I wonder if this could have been Bonanno member Vincenzo Morsellino, though he generally anglicized his name as Vincent.

Thomas Bonanno (258 Fairmount avenue, Newark, NJ) Not related to the famous ones. Family from Mezzojuso.

Victor Pilato (318 15th Ave, Newark, NJ)

Samuel Laperi (387 15th Ave, Newark, NJ)

Rocco Capo (287 Littleton Ave, Newark, NJ)

Joseph Hermando (376 Littleton Ave, Newark, NJ)

Samuel Costanzo (109 Elliot St, Passaic, NJ) This could be the Ne Pennsylvania member; he lived in NJ for a while.

Rocco DeFranco (31 Passaic St, Paterson, NJ)

Antonio Panino (568 E 24th St, Paterson, NJ)

Antonio Renia (37 Clark St, Garfield, NJ)

Julius Tareffo (232 Midland Ave, Garfield, NJ)

Nicholas Mecca (168 Quincy St, Passaic, NJ)

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This was a really fascinating event for several reasons:

It puts Troia in Newark prior to the Sam Monaco hit. I had previously theorized that his father Vincenzo could have come to the area to fill his shoes. Now we know he was there prior to that. Also, it makes a lot of sense that he would be connected to the Todaro family as they were from San Cipirello.

There were several Newark figures from there. Notably, Joseph Cannella who was arrested with Sam Monaco and had his naturalization witnessed by boss Nicola Schiro’s nephew Benjamin Grippi. The Bonanno overlap makes sense too.

Another interesting aspect is the mix of Bergen/Passaic guys. Mecca was ACWA agent and had raps sheet but other than that, they don’t really seem to have been connected to the mob. If Sam Costanzo was the same one as the mafia member, it would be a link to the Moretti group.

[B.]

Very interesting.

There was a Giacomo LoPiccolo from Monreale I previously noted who was heading to a brother Filippo in the Ridgewood/Bushwick area in 1923. Future Chicago boss Salvatore LoVerde, a Brancaccio member/leader in the 1920s, appears to have intended to be on the same ship but didn't sail -- LoVerde of course sat on the Castellammarese Peace commission with Vincenzo Troia. When I first saw Giacomo I wondered if LoPiccolo was a relative of likely Bonanno captain Stefano LoPiccolo of Ridgewood from Monreale/Pioppo as he was heading to the same neighborhood and now I'm curious if he could be the same Jack you found given the extensive Bonanno/Newark connections in that circle.

With the Troias settling in Newark, keep in mind Vincenzo was already spending a great amount of time in the NYC-NJ area during the war and was originally selected to be the first chairman of the Commission before Maranzano fought the Commission idea. That and his paesan connections to Newark likely played a big role in him settling in the area along with the legal trouble/notoriety he was getting in Illinois.

Mention of Thomas Campisi has me wondering if he could be the "Tom Bell" ValachI listed with the other early Newark members. Not aware of any "Bell" nickname with the Campisis. Thomas Bonanno would be another "Tom". Just trying to think of all the "Toms" who were active with the Newark Family and can't think of many.

[Antiliar]

The Italian word for "bell" is "campana," and Campisi shares a similar sounding root, so Thomas Campisi is a good candidate for being Tom Bell. I'll note that Campisi has a different etymology since it can come from "bowman," "campo" (field), or the region of Campise.

[B.]

Great observation, Rick.