Annaloro, Angelo "Bruno" (1910-1980)

Born Villalba, Sicily, May 21, 1910.

Killed Philadelphia PA, March 12, 1980.

Angelo Annaloro used the same adopted "Bruno" surname as World War II-era Philadelphia Mafia chief Joseph "Bruno" Dovi. Angelo Bruno was referred to as "the Gentle Don" and "the Docile Don" because he tended to look for compromise rather than conflict.

Born in Villalba, Sicily, Angelo Bruno came to the U.S. as a baby in 1911. He grew up in the Philadelphia area during the Prohibition Era. He remained on friendly terms with Mafiosi in his Sicilian hometown, in particular Calogero "Don Calo" Vizzini. During World War II, Allied forces endorsed the cooperative Vizzini as mayor of Villalba. That endorsement is sometimes cited as an example of Allied support for Mafia rule in Sicily.

Bruno was boss of the Philly Mob from about 1959 to his death in 1980. His reign was said to be one of compromise, and he is often referred to by the nickname, "The Gentle Don." His wife was Sue Maranca Bruno.

During Bruno's tenure as boss, Atlantic City was opened for gambling. The rich territory was right in the Philly Mob's backyard and became a source of conflict with the New York-New Jersey organizations. Some New York crime lords appear to have conspired with Bruno's ambitious consigliere Anthony Caponigro to eliminate Bruno. The Philadelphia chief was killed March 12, 1980. He was hit by a shotgun blast as he sat in his car in front of his Philadelphia home.

Caponigro's future didn't turn out the way he planned it. The Mafia's ruling Commission was offended by the unauthorized murder of a crime family boss. Caponigro was murdered in New York a short time later.

Related Links:

• Crime boss listing - Mafiahistory.us
• Informer (Oct 2010): Philadelphia Mafia Chart.