Antonino Alongi: Person of interest

A connected guy

Little is known about Antonino Alongi, but due to his connections, he can be at least labelled as a ‘person of interest’ when discussing the Pittson LCN. He was born c1888 in Siculiana, Agrigento, to parents Joe and Teresa Infurna. A 1930 census document has his immigration year as 1903, but more likely it was 1905.

By 1926, Antonino, his wife Vincenza and their family were living on Railroad Street, Pittston. This same year Vincenza died leaving Antonino with four young children.

In the early morning of a March day in 1927, dynamite was placed in the doorway of 55 East Railroad Street, Pittston; the following explosion caused considerable damage. Antonio Alongi lived with his children on the second floor; the building was owned by Pittston member Charles C. Bufalino (1878-1960). One newspaper report details that Alongi and his family were “thrown from their bed [and] ran screaming into the street.” Following the incident, Bufalino stated, “he suspects no one of harbouring any serious malice towards him,” whilst Alongi said, “he knows no reason why any person would single him out.”

Alongi remarried in 1928 to a Mary Falcone, and by 1930 the couple had moved from Pittston, to Auburn, NY with their combined children totalling six. A 1940 Auburn census lists the occupation of Antonino, now going by Anthony, as a clerk in a grocery store.

In 1941 Anthony Alongi died in the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA after an illness. His body was moved to the home of his brother-in-law, Angelo Falcone in Pittston for the funeral. This Angelo Falcone may be the same as one named as a Pittston-based ‘mafia suspect’ in a 1950 report.

Whilst there is no evidence to say Anthony Alongi was an LCN member, his funeral details show at the very least he was connected to known high-ranking members of the Pittston family as many played an active part in his funeral.

Honorary bearers:

1. Santo Volpe, b.1880, Montedoro, Former Pittston Family Boss

2. Charles G. Bufalino (most probably, Charles C. Bufalino), b.1878, Montedoro, Pittston Family member

3. Angelo Polizzi, b. 1899, San Cataldo, Pittston Family member

4. Ross Scianna (Sam Ross Scianna?)

There is a Sam Scianna of Scranton listed as a ‘Mafia suspect’ on a 1950 list. This is almost certainly the same person as Sam Ross (Salvatore Rosario) Scianna, (b. 1904, Chicago) who resided in Scranton at the time of Alongi’s death. His 1942 Draft Registration card identifies him as the owner of the Scianna Coal company, Forest City, Susquehanna Co., PA with his contact named as Angelo Polizzi of Scranton (Honorary bearer #3).

5.Joseph Barba (Barbara), b.1905, Castellammare Del Golfo, Endicott-based LCN member

6.Joseph Contessa, b. 1893, Cianciana, Agrigento, Pittston Family member

Active casket bearers:

1.Saverio Monichino (Monachino), b. 1892, Realmonte, Agrigento. Auburn-based LCN member.

2.Anedeo Sciartino (Amedeo Sciortino), b. 1882, Siculiana, Agrigento. Father of Buffalo member Pasquale ‘Patsy’ Sciortino. Amedeo’s name (and Saverio Monachino’s) was found in Nicola Gentile’s Green Address book. Amedeo was in the bottling industry, as were Saverio Monachino and his brother Pasquale. A resident of Auburn.

3.Ignazion Cassero (Ignazio Cassaro), b. 1882, Comitini, Agrigento. A resident of Auburn. No LCN links known. As of 1942, he lived on the same street as Amedeo Sciortino.

4.John Sciandra, b. 1899, Montedoro, Pittston Family Boss

5.Charles Bufalino, possibly the Charles J. Bufalino who was a son-in-law of Santo Volpe. (Not certain, as many Charles Bufalinos existed in the Pittston area at this time).

6.John Parino (Parrino), b. 1895, Palazzo Adriano, Pittston Family member