Angelo Bruno | |
|---|---|
 Angelo and Sue Bruno | |
| Born | Angelo Annaloro (1910-05-21)May 21, 1910 |
| Died | March 21, 1980(1980-03-21) (aged 69) Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Gunshot |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery,Yeadon, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Other names | "The Gentle Don", "The Docile Don"[1] |
| Occupation | Crime boss |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Allegiance | Bruno crime family |
Angelo Bruno (bornAngelo Annaloro,Italian:[ˈandʒeloannaˈlɔːro]; May 21, 1910 – March 21, 1980)[2] was aSicilian-Americanmobster who wasboss of thePhiladelphia crime family for two decades until his assassination. Bruno was known as "The Docile Don" due to his preference for conciliation over violence, in stark contrast to his successors.[1]
Born inVillalba,Province of Caltanissetta,Sicily, Bruno emigrated to the United States as a child and settled inSouth 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 inFeltonville, 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 ofSouth Philadelphia High School to open his own grocery store at Eighth and Annin streets inPassyunk Square, Philadelphia. Bruno was a close associate of New YorkGambino crime family bossCarlo 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 byCrowley Foods).[citation needed]
Bruno was married to Assunta "Sue" Maranca (1913–2007), hischildhood sweetheart, from 1931 until his death.[4] They had two children, Michael and Jean.[4] Bruno owned an extermination company inTrenton, New Jersey, an aluminum products company inHialeah, Florida, and a share in thePlaza Hotel inHavana,Cuba. Bruno's first arrest was in 1928 for reckless driving. Subsequent arrests includedfirearms violations, operating an illicitalcohol still,illegal gambling, and receiving stolen property.[citation needed]
In 1959, Bruno was made boss of the Philadelphia family after a period of friction withAntonio "Mr. Miggs" Pollina. Eventually a plot to have Bruno murdered was uncovered and Pollina was deposed by the commission but was allowed to live and operate. This was the first indicator of Bruno's aversion to violence as a solution. 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 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 traditionalCosa 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 soldierNicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo to the then-backwater ofAtlantic City, New Jersey, after he was charged with manslaughter.[5]
Like the rest of the mafia, Bruno was under immense pressure from Attorney GeneralRobert F. Kennedy, who was coming down hard on organized crime. An FBI surveillance operation in 1962 picked up Bruno and Willie Weisberg joking about killing the Attorney General.[6] By mid 1963 Bruno's situation had gotten worse and he began to consider leaving America altogether and returning to Italy.[7]
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 theLower Moyamensing neighborhood of South Philadelphia; his driver,John Stanfa, was wounded.[8] It is believed that the killing was ordered byAntonio Caponigro, Bruno'sconsigliere. A few weeks later, Caponigro's lifeless body was found, naked and battered, in the trunk of a car inthe Bronx.[9][10]The Commission had reportedly ordered Caponigro's murder because he assassinated Bruno without their sanction.[citation needed] Other Philadelphia family members found to be involved in Bruno's murder were tortured and killed.[citation needed]
The murder sparked a mob war in Philadelphia, which claimed over 20 lives over the next four years, including the succeeding bossPhilip "Chicken Man" Testa, and his sonSalvatore Testa.[11]
In February 2016, author and historianCeleste Morello began an effort to designate Bruno's home a historical landmark.[12] In March 2016, a historical landmark advisory committee ruled against the request.[13]
Bruno is portrayed byChazz Palminteri in the filmLegend (2015) andHarvey Keitel in the filmThe Irishman (2019).[14]
| American Mafia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Philadelphia crime family Boss 1970s–1980 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
