Salvatore Giovanni Cufari (1901 - 1983)

Born 13 Jan 1901 in Bianco, Reggio di Calabria, Italy

Husband of Julia Gertrude (Arrab) Cufari — married 16 Jun 1932 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA

Husband of Elizabeth Anne (Breck) MacArthur — married 29 Oct 1964 in Hot Springs, Garland, Arkansas, United States

Died 17 Sep 1983 at age 82 in East Longmeadow, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

Salvatore Giovanni Cufari, also called "Big Nose Sam" Cufari, also called Samuel Cufari, is born 31 January 1901 in Bianco Nuovo (now called "Bianco")^[1], Reggio Calabria, in Italy.^[2] He is the son of Filippo Cufari and Carmela Manafioti. Salvatore's birth is reported three days later for the civil record in Bianco, by his father, Filippo Cufari, age 26 (b. 1875), contadino, to his wife, Carmela Manafioti, in their home in Bianco.^[3]

Salvatore emigrates in 1914.^[2] He arrives in New York on the SS Berlin, sailing from Naples on 3 April 1914.

1. Carmela Charrefiote, 26 (b. 1885), married. All four last lived in Bianco, Reggio Calabria. They leave behind Carmela’s sister, and the aunt of the other three, Caterina, in Bianco. They are going to Springfield, MA, to join her husband and the childrens’ father, Filippo, at 276 Water St.
2. Salvatore Cufari, 16 (b. 1898), single (the manifest is hard to read, looks like “10”, I expect him to be 13 Cascio-10 19:59, 29 May 2017 (EDT))
3. Antonio Cufari, 11 (b. 1903)
4. Caterina Cufari, 5 (b. 1909)^[1]

In the 1920 federal census, Philip Cufari, 44 (b. 1876), heads a household with his wife, Carmela, 41 (b. 1879), and children Sam, 18 (b. 1902), Tony, 16 (b. 1904), Mary (a match for Caterina), 11 (b. 1909), and Frances, 4 (b. 1916).^[4]

Sam's obituary calls him a "Reputed organized crime boss who got his start running liquor during Prohibition."^[2] His arrest record in the Springfield, Massachusetts area begins in 1924.^[5] He is injured in a police shootout in 1925.^[2]

In the 1930 federal census, Philip Cufari, 54 (b. 1876), a mechanic, heads a household with his wife Carmela, 50 (b. 1880), and children Samuel, 29 (b. 1901), Anthony, 27 (b. 1903), Mary, 21 (b. 1909), and Francis, 15 (b. 1915) on Central St in Springfield, MA. All were born in Italy. Philip immigrated in 1907 and the rest of his family in 1914.^[6] Based on his age, Frances/Francis was most likely born in the US.

Sam marries twice, first to Julia Arrab. They have two children, Carmella (c. 1934) and Lillian (c. 1937).

On 8 July 1932, Samuel Cufari, 31 (b. 1901), and his wife Julia, 26 (b. 1906), of Springfield, sail from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, FL on the SS Florida.

In the 1940 federal census, Samuel Cufari heads a household on Maple St in Springfield. Samuel is 39 (b. 1901), his wife Julia is 33 (b. 1907) and was born in Syria. Their children are Carmella, 6 (b. 1934), and Lillian A, 2.5 (b. 1937). Also living with them is Lillian Arrab, his widowed mother in law, who is 48. He is a salesman for a pool table supply company.^[7]

Salvatore Giovanni Cufari has a membership application to the Sons of Italy in America, Massachusetts, stamped 16 July 1940. He is 39 years old. His profession might be “commesso,” salesman. He is the son of Filippo, born 13 January 1901 in Bianco, Nuovo Reggio Calabria. He lives at 954 Maple St in Springfield. He is married to Julia, who is 34. They have two children. He has had his appendix and his tonsils removed.^[8]

In 1943, three "big shots" and nineteen others are arrested in a State Police crackdown, "made without the knowledge or assistance of Springfield police." The big shots are Samuel Cufari of Springfield and Joseph J. Toole of Longmeadow, "both well known in sporting circles," and George Dorsey of Springfield. Cufari and Toole are released on $5,000 bail, charged with six counts of making and writing a fictitious lottery.^[9] Cufari receives a suspended sentence.^[2]

Sam owns the monopoly on cleaning products, “Poly-Clean,” purchased by labor groups in the area.^[5]

In 1948 he opens a restaurant, Ciro’s, in Springfield.^[2] Sam runs his criminal enterprises from the restaurant, located in the South End, on Main Street. His soldiers include Felix Tranghese and future boss "Big Al" Bruno.^[10]

Sam attends the 1957 Apalachin Summit in New York. His American citizenship is stripped from him when this becomes known, through the Senate hearings on the Mafia.^[5]

Sam is the captain of the Springfield Crew of the Genovese crime family in the 1970s and early 80s. He suffers a stroke in the 70s.^[5]

Salvatore remarries to Elizabeth Breck at an unknown date.

At his death, Salvatore leaves three daughters: Carmela J. Harbey, Lillian Browne, and Elizabeth Cufari.^[2]

Sam dies of natural causes on 17 September 1983, at age 82.^[2] He is succeeded as captain by Frankie Scibelli.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} Obituary published 19 September 1983 in the Springfield Union, quoted on "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVG8-GQKZ : 13 December 2015), Salvatore L. Cufari, 1983; Burial, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States of America, Saint Michaels Cemetery; citing record ID 121199020, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
3. ↑ Record no. 11, 16 January 1901. Accessed https://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/ark:/12657/an_ua16378825/wlaaGkM/ 19 May 2017.
4. ↑ “United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXB8-DJ7 : 1 February 2021), Sam Cufari in entry for Phillip Cufari, 1920.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} “Sam Cufari” on Mafia Geneology. https://mafiagenealogy.com/2017/11/01/the-bosses-of-springfield-massachusetts/ Accessed 19 Mar 2024.
6. ↑ “United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQGX-L4G : accessed 21 January 2022), Samuel Cufari in household of Philip Cufari, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 46, sheet 9A, line 4, family 190, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 909; FHL microfilm 2,340,644.
7. ↑ “United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4KX-W3Z : 10 January 2021), Samuel Cufari, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 22-66, sheet 6A, line 18, family 199, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1708.
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Order Sons of Italy in America, Membership Applications, 1925-1955 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: OSIA Massachusetts Membership Applications. Washington, DC: Order Sons of Italy in America.
9. ↑ 22 Are Indicted at Springfield on Racket Charges Daily Boston Globe (1928-1960); Apr 9, 1943; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Boston Globe pg. 15.
10. ↑ Barry, Stephanie. “Organized crime in Springfield evolved through death and money.” 11 December 2011. http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/organized_crime_in_springfield.html Accessed 15 May 2017.