Benigno Rizzotto (1896 - 1990)

Born 24 Mar 1896 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicilia, Italia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 17 Feb 1990 at age 93 in West Covina, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Benigno Rizzotto is born in Corleone on 24 March 1896 and baptized the next day. He is the son of Antonino Rizzotto and Vittoria Vaccaro. His godmother is Calogera d’Antoni. A margin note on his baptismal record indicates Benigno marries in New York at the Chiesa S. Anna on 21 January 1917, to Gilda Carbo, daughter of Orazio, from Benevento.^[1]

Benigno emigrates when he is an infant. He is eight months old according to the manifest of the SS Alsatia, arriving in New York on 26 December 1896. Benigno is sailing with his brother, Paolo, age nine (b. 1887), and his mother, Vittoria Vaccaro, age 23 (b. 1873). They are destined for New York.^[2]

Benigno's second cousin and future brother-in-law is Jack Dragna, an early Mafia boss in Los Angeles. "Benjamin Rizzotta," whose dates and place of birth are a match for this profile, appears in Bill Feather's membership chart of Los Angeles Mafia, a soldier from the 1930s-60s under Dragna. His nickname is "Tita."^[3]

In December 1914, after the murder of poultry magnate Barnet Baff, Jack Dragna and his second cousin, Ben Rizzotto, flee to California and stay with Sam Streva in San Pedro.^[4][5]

On 6 July 1915, "Jack Rizzotto" (Jack Dragna), Salvatore Streva, and Ben Streva (Ben Rizzotto, are arrested for extortion of a wealthy rancher, Dominico Lauricella.^[6] Jack and Ben are arrested at Lauricella's home, and after questioning by police, Sam Streva is also arrested.^[7][8]

In November, motions are heard for a new trial for Ben Rizzotto in the extortion case.^[9]

A little over a year later, Ben is in New York.

Benigno marries Gilda, who is often called "Zelda" in these records, in Manhattan on 21 January 1917. Born about 1898, she is the daughter of Orazio Carbo and Violanda Cifaldi.^[10]

Bennie and Zelda have two children, Victoria Vivian (c. 1920) and Anthony John (c. 1923).

Months after his marriage, on 16 May 1917, Jack and Ben are laborers living on 11th St. in San Pedro. (Sam Streva lives on 11th St.) They are working in the car barns of the Pacific Electric Co. at 7th and Alameda St., in Los Angeles, when they are identified as two fugitives wanted in New York for the Baff murder. Jack is captured but Ben manages to escape. Reporting calls the men brothers.^[6]

In the 1920 federal census of New York City taken 19 January, Bennie Rizzotto heads a household at 304 101st St. Bennie, age 24, immigrated in 1897. His wife, Zelda, is 21. Both were born in Italy. Zelda’s immigration date is not recorded. Bennie works as a plasterer for a contractor.^[11]

In the 1930 federal census of the city and county of Los Angeles, taken 11 April, (ED 19-532, AD 67, Ward 7), Bennie Rizzotto heads a household at 342 65th St. Bennie is 34 and married when he was 20. His wife, Azilda, 31, married when she was 17. They own their home, worth $5,000. Their children at home are Vivian, 10 (b. 1920), and Anthony, 7 (b. 1923). Bennie and Azilda were born in Italy and immigrated in 1896 and 1899, respectively. They are naturalized citizens. Vivian was born in New York and Anthony in California. Bennie is a salesman for a malt and bottle store.^[12]

Victoria Vivian Rizzotto, age 20 (b. 1920), daughter of Benny Rizzotto and Aziloa Carbo, marries Frank Dragna, age 21 (b. 1919), on 9 June 1940 in Los Angeles, CA.^[13] Frank is Jack Dragna's nephew.

Benigno registers for the draft for WWII. He lives at 342 E. 65th St., Los Angeles, CA. He is 46, born in Palermo (“Parelmo”) on 19 March 1896. His nearest contact is Mrs. Victoria Rizzotto of 4956 Wadsworth St., Los Angeles, his married daughter, indicating that his wife has died by this time. He is employed by Frank P. Santiello of 4373 Avalon Bl., Los Angeles. His place of employment is the same address on Avalon. The registrar report dates 27 April 1942 describes Benigno as 5’5.5” and 170# with brown eyes and hair and a light complexion.^[14]

Ben Rizzotto, formerly called Benigno, becomes a naturalized citizen on 11 April 1847 when he is 51 years old. He lives at 342 E. 65th St., Los Angeles.^[15]

Anthony John Rizzotto, age 25 (b. 1923), marries Vivian Jo Gautiello, age 19 (b. 1929), on 9 May 1948 in Los Angeles. Anthony lives at 3644 W. 64th St., Los Angeles. Anthony was born in Los Angeles. He owns a pool hall. This is his first marriage. His father was reportedly born in New York, as was his mother. (These are incorrect.) The couple are married in St. John Catholic Church in Los Angeles. The witness is Frank Dragna of 8927 Hubert Ave., Los Angeles. (Anthony’s brother-in-law, married to his sister, Victoria.)^[16]

Ben Rizzotto, born either 24 February or March 1896, dies in February 1990 in West Covina, Los Angeles, CA.^[17] He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina Hills.^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Benignum Rizzotto, record no. 149, 25 March 1896, "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2S-KTW?cc=2046915&wc=MG34-ZNP%3A351041801%2C351041802%2C351299201 : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1895-1899 > image 81 of 309; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
2. ↑ Alsatia manifest retrieved via SteveMorse.org http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/EIDB/engine/gold.html?username=003007014022000013021024015017016028037023002015012031090006031002&password=034007006027017009028010089093&pid=102895090787&type=manifest Accessed 1 September 2017.
3. ↑ http://mafiamembershipcharts.blogspot.com/2015/01/los-angeles-family-membership-chart.html Accessed 1 September 2017.
4. ↑ Critchley, D. (2009). The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891-1931. New York: Routledge.
5. ↑ Streva charged with plot at Long Beach. (1915, July 8). San Pedro News Pilot. Vol. 2. No. 240. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19150708.2.12&srpos=21&e=-------en--20--21--txt-txIN-Streva-------1
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Capture noted New York fugitive. (1917, May 26). San Pedro News Pilot. Vol. 4. No. 199. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19170526.2.2&srpos=64&e=-------en--20--61--txt-txIN-Streva-------1
7. ↑ Jail three, plot of blackhand is revealed. (1915, July 7). Los Angeles Herald. Vol. XKI. No. 213. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19150707.2.424&srpos=36&e=-------en--20--21--txt-txIN-Streva-------1
8. ↑ "Jack Rizzota", San Quentin Prison Register, No. 29262.
9. ↑ Hears arguments over new trial. (1915, November 29). Los Angeles Herald. Vol. XLII. No. 24. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19151129.2.464&srpos=55&e=-------en--20--41--txt-txIN-Streva-------1
10. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24QK-96D : accessed 5 March 2016), Antonino Rizzotto in entry for Benigno Rizzotto and Gilda Carbo, 21 Jan 1917; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,614,657.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ13-S5K : accessed 1 September 2017), Benne Rizzotto, Manhattan Assembly District 18, New York, New York, United States; citing ED 1234, sheet 18A, line 31, family 371, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1218; FHL microfilm 1,821,218.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCZY-V8P : accessed 1 September 2017), Bennie Rizzotto, Los Angeles (Districts 0501-0750), Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 532, sheet 15A, line 33, family 304, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 152; FHL microfilm 2,339,887.
13. ↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8VX-C1F : 31 July 2017), Benny Rizzotto in entry for Frank Dragna and Victoria Vivian Rizzotto, 09 Jun 1940; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,114,372.
14. ↑ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4DZ-8JM : 8 April 2016), Benigno Rizzotto, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
15. ↑ Petition N0. 130260. Naturalization record no. 6641669. Alien registration no. 3647765. "California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index, 1915-1976," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KX3R-C8S : 28 November 2014), Ben Or Benigno Rizzotto, 1947; citing Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, National Archives and Records Service, Los Angeles Branch, Laguna Niguel; FHL microfilm 1,557,045.
16. ↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8KP-F6G : 5 August 2017), Ban Rizzotto in entry for Anthony John Rizzotto and Vivian Jo Gautiello, 09 May 1948; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,116,259.
17. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JG33-RZD : 20 May 2014), Ben Rizzotto, Feb 1990; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
18. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLX-VM4J : 13 December 2015), Ben Rizzotto, 1990; Burial, Covina, Los Angeles, California, United States of America, Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Covina Hills); citing record ID 94401924, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.