Angelo Bruno (born Angelo Annaloro; Italian: [ˈandʒelo annaˈlɔːro]; (May 21, 1910 – March 21, 1980)[2] was a Sicilian-American mobster, notable for being boss of the Philadelphia crime family for two decades until his assassination. Bruno was known as "the Gentle Don" due to his preference for conciliation over violence, in stark contrast to his successors.[1]
Born in Villalba, Province of Caltanissetta, Sicily, Bruno immigrated to the United States as a child and settled in South Philadelphia with his brother, Vito.[3] He was the son of a foundry worker who opened a small grocery store at 4341 North Sixth Street in Feltonville, Philadelphia. Angelo helped his father at the store until 1922, at the age of twelve when he first entered school but attended for only a few years before dropping out of South Philadelphia High School to open his own grocery store at Eighth and Annin streets in Passyunk Square, Philadelphia. Bruno was a close associate of New York Gambino crime family boss Carlo Gambino. Living with Bruno was a cousin of mobster John Simone. Bruno dropped the name Annaloro and replaced it with his paternal grandmother's maiden name, Bruno. His sponsor into the Philadelphia mafia was Michael Maggio, a convicted murderer with a national reputation, and the founder of M. Maggio Cheese Corp. (since bought up by Crowley Foods).
Bruno was married to Assunta "Sue" Bruno (née Maranca; 1913–2007), his childhood sweetheart, from 1931 until his death.[4] They had two children, Michael and Jean.[4] Bruno owned an extermination company in Trenton, New Jersey, an aluminum products company in Hialeah, Florida, and a share in the Plaza Hotel in Havana, Cuba. Bruno's first arrest was in 1928 for reckless driving. Subsequent arrests included firearms violations, operating an illicit alcohol still, illegal gambling, and receiving stolen property.
Family leader
In 1959, Bruno succeeded Joseph Ida as boss of the Philadelphia family. Over the next twenty years, Bruno successfully avoided the intense media and law enforcement scrutiny and outbursts of violence that plagued other crime families. Bruno himself avoided lengthy prison terms despite several arrests; his longest term was two years for refusing to testify before a grand jury. Bruno forbade family involvement in narcotics trafficking, preferring more traditional Cosa Nostra operations, such as bookmaking and loansharking. However, Bruno did permit other gangs to distribute heroin in Philadelphia for a share of the proceeds. This arrangement angered some family members who wanted a share of the drug-dealing profits.
Bruno preferred to operate through bribery and soft power rather than murder. For example, he banished violent soldier Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo to the then-backwater of Atlantic City, New Jersey after he was charged with manslaughter.[5]
Rebellion and death
Angelo Bruno murder scene
On March 21, 1980, the 69-year-old Bruno was killed by a shotgun blast to the head as he sat in his car in front of his home near the intersection of 10th Street and Snyder Avenue in the Lower Moyamensing neighborhood of South Philadelphia; his driver, John Stanfa, was wounded.[6] It is believed that the killing was ordered by Antonio Caponigro, Bruno's consigliere. A few weeks later, Caponigro's lifeless body was found, naked and battered, in the trunk of a car in the Bronx.[7][8]The Commission had reportedly ordered Caponigro's murder because he assassinated Bruno without their sanction. Other Philadelphia family members found to be involved in Bruno's murder were tortured and killed.
The murder sparked a mob war in Philadelphia, which claimed over 20 lives over the next four years, including the succeeding boss Philip "Chicken Man" Testa, and his son Salvatore Testa.[9]
In February 2016, author and historian Celeste Morello began an effort to designate Bruno's home a historical landmark.[10] In March 2016, a historical landmark advisory committee ruled against the request.[11]
^ ab. Archived from the original on 2018-02-11. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
^"From Sabella to Merlino: Five Philadelphia mob bosses who impacted Pennsylvania and New Jersey". pennlive.com. 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
^"Philadelphia Mob Boss Angelo Bruno". American Mafia History. September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^ abCaparella, Kitty (July 18, 2007). "Sue Bruno, widow of mob boss, dies at 94". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^. The New York Times. January 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017.
^Ledbetter, Les (March 22, 1980). "Reputed Leader In Mob Is Killed In Philadelphia; Angelo Bruno Shot Dead in Auto Outside Home A Record of Arrests". The New York Times.
^. The New York Times. May 24, 2015. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015.
^. The New York Times. May 24, 2015. p. A14. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015.
^"Crime Figure's Son Slain in Jersey". The New York Times. September 16, 1984.
^Allyn, Bobby. Newsworks.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
^"Committee Rejects Philly Mob Boss' Home As Historical Landmark". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
^Schaffstall, Katherine (November 30, 2019). "'The Irishman': 12 of the Film's Stars and Their Real-Life Inspirations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
Further reading
Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob - The Mafia's Most Violent Family by George Anastasia, 2003, ISBN0-940159-86-4
Bureau of Narcotics, U.S. Treasury Department, "Mafia: the Government's Secret File on Organized Crime", HarperCollins Publishers 2007 ISBN0-06-136385-5
Morello, Celeste Anne. Book One Before Bruno: The History of the Mafia and La Cosa Nostra in Philadelphia. Publication date: 4/28/2000, ISBN9780967733418
Morello, Celeste Anne. Book Two Before Bruno: The History of the Philadelphia Mafia, 1931-1946. Publication date: 11/28/2001, ISBN9780967733425
Morello, Celeste Anne. Book Three Before Bruno and How He Became Boss: The History of the Philadelphia Mafia, Book 3--1946-1959. Publication date: 8/28/2005, ISBN9780977053209
External links
American Mafia's brief history of the Mafion sentencea in Philadelphia
"Angelo Bruno". Find a Grave. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
angelo, bruno, born, angelo, annaloro, italian, ˈandʒelo, annaˈlɔːro, 1910, march, 1980, sicilian, american, mobster, notable, being, boss, philadelphia, crime, family, decades, until, assassination, bruno, known, gentle, preference, conciliation, over, violen. Angelo Bruno born Angelo Annaloro Italian ˈandʒelo annaˈlɔːro May 21 1910 March 21 1980 2 was a Sicilian American mobster notable for being boss of the Philadelphia crime family for two decades until his assassination Bruno was known as the Gentle Don due to his preference for conciliation over violence in stark contrast to his successors 1 Angelo BrunoBruno and his wife SueBornAngelo Annaloro 1910 05 21 May 21 1910Villalba Sicily Kingdom of ItalyDiedMarch 21 1980 1980 03 21 aged 69 Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S Cause of deathGunshotResting placeHoly Cross Cemetery Yeadon Pennsylvania U S Other names The Gentle Don The Docile Don 1 OccupationCrime bossSpouseSue Maranca m 1931 wbr Children2AllegianceBruno crime family Contents 1 Early years 2 Family leader 3 Rebellion and death 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly years EditBorn in Villalba Province of Caltanissetta Sicily Bruno immigrated to the United States as a child and settled in South Philadelphia with his brother Vito 3 He was the son of a foundry worker who opened a small grocery store at 4341 North Sixth Street in Feltonville Philadelphia Angelo helped his father at the store until 1922 at the age of twelve when he first entered school but attended for only a few years before dropping out of South Philadelphia High School to open his own grocery store at Eighth and Annin streets in Passyunk Square Philadelphia Bruno was a close associate of New York Gambino crime family boss Carlo Gambino Living with Bruno was a cousin of mobster John Simone Bruno dropped the name Annaloro and replaced it with his paternal grandmother s maiden name Bruno His sponsor into the Philadelphia mafia was Michael Maggio a convicted murderer with a national reputation and the founder of M Maggio Cheese Corp since bought up by Crowley Foods Bruno was married to Assunta Sue Bruno nee Maranca 1913 2007 his childhood sweetheart from 1931 until his death 4 They had two children Michael and Jean 4 Bruno owned an extermination company in Trenton New Jersey an aluminum products company in Hialeah Florida and a share in the Plaza Hotel in Havana Cuba Bruno s first arrest was in 1928 for reckless driving Subsequent arrests included firearms violations operating an illicit alcohol still illegal gambling and receiving stolen property Family leader EditIn 1959 Bruno succeeded Joseph Ida as boss of the Philadelphia family Over the next twenty years Bruno successfully avoided the intense media and law enforcement scrutiny and outbursts of violence that plagued other crime families Bruno himself avoided lengthy prison terms despite several arrests his longest term was two years for refusing to testify before a grand jury Bruno forbade family involvement in narcotics trafficking preferring more traditional Cosa Nostra operations such as bookmaking and loansharking However Bruno did permit other gangs to distribute heroin in Philadelphia for a share of the proceeds This arrangement angered some family members who wanted a share of the drug dealing profits Bruno preferred to operate through bribery and soft power rather than murder For example he banished violent soldier Nicodemo Little Nicky Scarfo to the then backwater of Atlantic City New Jersey after he was charged with manslaughter 5 Rebellion and death Edit Angelo Bruno murder scene On March 21 1980 the 69 year old Bruno was killed by a shotgun blast to the head as he sat in his car in front of his home near the intersection of 10th Street and Snyder Avenue in the Lower Moyamensing neighborhood of South Philadelphia his driver John Stanfa was wounded 6 It is believed that the killing was ordered by Antonio Caponigro Bruno s consigliere A few weeks later Caponigro s lifeless body was found naked and battered in the trunk of a car in the Bronx 7 8 The Commission had reportedly ordered Caponigro s murder because he assassinated Bruno without their sanction Other Philadelphia family members found to be involved in Bruno s murder were tortured and killed The murder sparked a mob war in Philadelphia which claimed over 20 lives over the next four years including the succeeding boss Philip Chicken Man Testa and his son Salvatore Testa 9 In February 2016 author and historian Celeste Morello began an effort to designate Bruno s home a historical landmark 10 In March 2016 a historical landmark advisory committee ruled against the request 11 In popular culture EditBruno is portrayed by Chazz Palminteri in the film Legend 2015 and Harvey Keitel in the film The Irishman 2019 12 See also Edit Biography portal Philadelphia portalList of crime bosses List of unsolved murdersReferences Edit a b The Godfather s Daughter Philadelphia Magazine Archived from the original on 2018 02 11 Retrieved 2017 11 27 From Sabella to Merlino Five Philadelphia mob bosses who impacted Pennsylvania and New Jersey pennlive com 2016 10 12 Retrieved 2019 06 19 Philadelphia Mob Boss Angelo Bruno American Mafia History September 27 2018 Retrieved September 9 2020 a b Caparella Kitty July 18 2007 Sue Bruno widow of mob boss dies at 94 The Philadelphia Inquirer Retrieved September 9 2020 Nicky Scarfo Mob Boss Who Plundered Atlantic City in the 80s Dies at 87 The New York Times January 17 2017 Archived from the original on January 18 2017 Ledbetter Les March 22 1980 Reputed Leader In Mob Is Killed In Philadelphia Angelo Bruno Shot Dead in Auto Outside Home A Record of Arrests The New York Times Mob in Philadelphia Is Called Fragmented by 11th Killing The New York Times May 24 2015 Archived from the original on May 24 2015 Reputed Philadelphia Crime Figure Is Killed by Explosion at His Home The New York Times May 24 2015 p A14 Archived from the original on May 24 2015 Crime Figure s Son Slain in Jersey The New York Times September 16 1984 Allyn Bobby Philly historical commission gets offer it can refuse preserving home of slain mob boss Newsworks org Archived from the original on 2017 08 08 Retrieved 2017 07 16 Committee Rejects Philly Mob Boss Home As Historical Landmark NPR org Retrieved 2017 07 16 Schaffstall Katherine November 30 2019 The Irishman 12 of the Film s Stars and Their Real Life Inspirations The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved September 9 2020 Further reading EditBlood and Honor Inside the Scarfo Mob The Mafia s Most Violent Family by George Anastasia 2003 ISBN 0 940159 86 4 Bureau of Narcotics U S Treasury Department Mafia the Government s Secret File on Organized Crime HarperCollins Publishers 2007 ISBN 0 06 136385 5 Morello Celeste Anne Book One Before Bruno The History of the Mafia and La Cosa Nostra in Philadelphia Publication date 4 28 2000 ISBN 9780967733418 Morello Celeste Anne Book Two Before Bruno The History of the Philadelphia Mafia 1931 1946 Publication date 11 28 2001 ISBN 9780967733425 Morello Celeste Anne Book Three Before Bruno and How He Became Boss The History of the Philadelphia Mafia Book 3 1946 1959 Publication date 8 28 2005 ISBN 9780977053209External links EditAmerican Mafia s brief history of the Mafion sentencea in Philadelphia Angelo Bruno Find a Grave Retrieved September 14 2010 American MafiaPreceded byJoseph Ida Philadelphia crime familyBoss1970s 1980 Succeeded byPhilip Testa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Angelo Bruno amp oldid 1146052040, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
