Ninfa (Magliocco) Profaci (1904 - 1990)

Born 20 Mar 1904 in Villabate, Palermo, Sicilia, Italia

Wife of Giuseppe Profaci — married 29 Apr 1928 (to 6 Jun 1962) in Brooklyn, New York, United States

Died 11 Oct 1990 at age 86 in New York, United States

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Biography

Ninfa "Nina" Magliocco is born 20 March 1904 in Villabate, in Palermo province, Sicily.

On 22 March 1904 in Villabate, Giovanni Magliocco, age 50 (b. 1854), possidente, resident of Villabate, reports the birth on 20 March to Carmela Fontana, his wife, a baby girl who is named Ninfa.^[1]

Nina immigrates in 1914 with her parents and siblings.^[2] The SS Taormina, departing Palermo on 9 April 1914 and arriving in the Port of New York on 22 April, includes these passengers on the manifest:

Giovanni Magliocco, 55 (b. 1859), a trader. He and his family are from Villabate, where they were born and last resided. They have no relations back in Italy. They are going to Brooklyn to meet his son, Angelo Magliocco, at 462 Cassett St. (This is not a valid address. This street name has never existed in Brooklyn.^[3])

None of them can read or write. Giovanni is 5’3”.

Carmela Fontana, 45 (b. 1869), his wife, 4’11”

Ambroglio Magliocco, 13 (b. 1901). He and the next two children are all recorded as being the same height as Carmela.

Giovanni Magliocco, 3 (b. 1911)

Ninfa Magliocco, 11 (she is twelve)

Giuseppe Magliocco, 15 (b. 1899), a trader, is 5’11”

Antonino Magliocco, 11 (b. 1903), is also recorded as 5’11”. The heights seem haphazard, given the ages. All have fair complexions and chestnut hair and eyes.^[4]

In the 1920 federal census of Brooklyn, New York, taken 8 January, of ED 443, the households of John and Angelo Magliocco appear in sequence.

John Magliocco, 60 (b. 1859), heads a household with his wife, Carmela, 52 (b. 1867), and children Joseph, 22 (b. 1897), Ambrosio, 19 (b. 1899), Ninfa, 16 (she is 15), and Antonio, 10 (b. 1909). John owns his home. His family immigrated in 1914, including Angelo, next door. They are all alien residents. John, Joseph, and Ambrosio are laborers in the building industry. Ninfa works from home as a seamstress. Giovanni, who was three at immigration, does not appear in this record.

Next door, Angelo Magliocco, 34 (b. 1885), heads a household with his wife, Anna, 27 (b. 1892), and children Carmela, 1 year and ten months (b. Feb/Mar 1918), and John, six months old (b. Jun/Jul 1919). Angelo rents his home. His wife, Anna, immigrated in 1910. Their two young children were born in New York. Angelo is a salesman for a liquor store. Prohibition officially began eight days after this census was taken.^[5]

Giuseppe Profaci and Ninfa Magliocco, both of 279 Bay 11th St in Brooklyn, are united in marriage on 29 April 1928 by a Roman Catholic priest at Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn before witnesses Michele De Pisa and Margaret Italiano. The certificate is stamped RECEIVED on 2 May 1928. It is the first marriage for them both. Giuseppe is 30,, an importer, born in Palermo, son of Salvatore Profaci and Rosalia Schillaci. Ninfa is 24, also born in Palermo, Italy, the daughter of Giovanni Magliocco and Carmela Fontana. The celebrants and witnesses sign their names. Michele signs it “Mike Dipisa.”^[6]

Ninfa's husband is a mafioso with a Brooklyn-based crime family that is formally recognized later in 1928 at the Cleveland Conference.

In the 1930 federal census of Brooklyn, ED 24-1472, taken 17 April, Joseph Profaci, age 32 (b. 1898), heads a household with his wife, Ninfa, 26 (b. 1904). They married two years previously. They own their home, which is worth $14,000. Joseph immigrated in 1921, and Ninfa in 1918. Both are naturalized citizens. He is a sales manager for a spaghetti manufacturer.^[7] ED-1472, AD 16, is bounded by Bay 8th, Cropsey Ave, 16th Ave, and Gravesend Bay in Brooklyn.

Joe and Nina have six children, according to Wikipedia, including two sons: John Jr, and Frank. Frank joins his father's crime family, now known as the Colombo Family, while John Jr. enters legitimate business.^[8] According to a profile of John Jr., he has three brothers in business with him at Colavita USA: Joseph, Anthony, and Robert.^[9] Joe has at least one daughter, who marries a gangster from Detroit.^[10]

Nina’s brother, Joseph (born Giuseppe), becomes her husband's long time underboss.^[2]

Nina's husband and Joe Bonanno are close friends. Their families visit each other often. Their niece Rosalie marries Salvatore Bonanno. Their daughter marries the son of Vito Tocco, from Detroit.^[11]

In the 1940 federal census of Brooklyn AD 16, ED 24-1768, taken 2 April, Giuseppe Proface, 42 (b. 1898), heads a household at 8863 15th Ave with his wife Ninfa, 36 (b. 1904), both born in Italy, and their children Rosalind, 10 (b. 1930), Carmela, 8 (b. 1932), Salvatore, 4 (b. 1936), John, 3 (b. 1937), and Dominic, 2 (b. 1938), all born in New York. Giuseppe owns his home. He is self-employed as an importer of Italian goods.^[12]

Giuseppe S. Profaci registers for the draft for WWII on 15 February 1942. He lives at 8863 15th Ave., Brooklyn, NY. His contact is Ninfa Profaci at the same home address.^[13]

In the 1950 federal census of ED 24-1354 in Brooklyn, taken 10 April, Joseph Profaci, age 50 (b. 1900), heads a household at 8863 15th Ave with his wife, Ninfa, 46 (b. 1904), both born in Italy, and children Carmella, 17 (b. 1933), Salvatore, 13 (b. 1937), John, 12 (b. 1938), Dominick, 11 (b. 1939), and Joseph, 7 (b. 1943), all born in New York.^[14]

Profaci's territory is Long Island, where he has a home that was previously owned by former US President Theodore Roosevelt. ^[11]

By 1960, Profaci and Magliocco have held uncontested power for thirty years. Profaci's alliances are credited with his lengthy career.^[2][15]

Profaci is a devout Catholic who makes many donations to Catholic charities.

He does not pay his taxes.

Joe dies of cancer on 7 June 1962.^[11][16]

John Jr. begins an olive oil import business, Colavita USA, in 1978.^[17]

Death of Nina

Ninfa dies at age 86 on 11 October 1990 in New York.^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Atto di nascita, Ninfa Magliocco. (1904, March 22). Villabate, Registro 5, Record no. 44. Archivio di Stato di Palermo. https://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/ark:/12657/an_ua36080864/Lz3XR3g Images 31-32
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Mafia. Penguin, 4 Jan 2005. P. 302.
3. ↑ Sources: http://geographic.org/streetview/usa/ny/brooklyn.html and http://www.brooklyn.net/neighborhoods/obsolete_street_names.html
4. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJS5-B32 : 6 December 2014), Ninfa Magliocco, 22 Apr 1914; citing departure port Palermo, arrival port New York, ship name Taormina, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRXK-S7?cc=1488411&wc=QZJR-4Y3%3A1036473601%2C1036473602%2C1037016001%2C1589336225 : 14 December 2015), New York > Kings > Brooklyn Assembly District 8 > image 23 of 74; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ Certificate and record of marriage, Giuseppe Profaci and Ninfa Magliocco. (1928, Apri 29). Certificate no. 5145. Brooklyn. New York City Municipal Archives. NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS). https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/9286815 Accessed 27 October 2022
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4J1-JTG : accessed 7 April 2017), Joseph Profaci, Brooklyn (Districts 1251-1500), Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1472, sheet 1A, line 18, family 4, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1526; FHL microfilm 2,341,261.
8. ↑ Joe Profaci. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Profaci Accessed 6 April 2017.
9. ↑ La Gorce, Tammy. “Oil Baron: Jersey-Made Extra Virgin Olive Oil.” New Jersey Monthly. Published 11 Dec 2012. https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/oil-baron/ Accessed 5 April 2017.
10. ↑ Giuseppe “Joe” Profaci. http://americanmafiahistory.com/giuseppe-joe-profaci/ Accessed 5 April 2017.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Giuseppe "Joe" Profaci. http://americanmafiahistory.com/giuseppe-joe-profaci/ Accessed 5 April 2017.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MY-P2D5?cc=2000219&wc=QZXR-H7C%3A790105101%2C795835101%2C804038401%2C804117101 : accessed 28 October 2022), New York > Kings > New York City, Brooklyn, Assembly District 16 > 24-1768 New York City, Brooklyn Borough Assembly District 16 (Tract 168 - part) > image 1 of 10; citing 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.
13. ↑ National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for New York City, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147 Name Range: Priola, Leo-Scimone, Frank Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
14. ↑ FamilySearch accessed 28 October 2022. “Joseph Profaci,” “Brooklyn,” “Ninfa.” No citation available. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-9QHW-MS79-C?personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6XTL-1QSB
15. ↑ Joe Profaci Biography. http://www.nationalcrimesyndicate.com/joe-profaci-biography/ Accessed 6 April 2017.
16. ↑ ‘Olive Oil King’ Joseph Profaci. Gardens of Stone. Published 20 June 2011. Accessed http://www.gardens-of-stone.com/2011/06/olive-oil-king-joseph-profaci.html 6 April 2017.
17. ↑ La Gorce, Tammy. “Oil Baron: Jersey-Made Extra Virgin Olive Oil.” New Jersey Monthly. Published 11 Dec 2012. https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/oil-baron/ Accessed 5 April 2017.
18. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JK2V-Z6J : 19 May 2014), Ninfa Profaci, 11 Oct 1990; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).