Little Albie DeMarco
Philadelphia's last man standing in New Brunswick
Born in 1900 in the Chieti province of the Abruzzo region, Arturo DeMarco immigrated with his Mother Sabina Cerritelli in 1903 to meet his Father Giustino in Providence, Rhode Island. By 1910, the family were living in Philadelphia.
A 1920 census document has Arturo’s, (now going by Alfred) occupation as driver. By now his family had grown and he had several siblings including brothers Guido, Nicolo (Nicholas) and Alphonse (Arnold).
In 1922, Arturo/Alfred, now a jeweller like his Father, was residing on Passyunk Avenue, just a few minutes walk from the Turco brothers, Vincenzo and Angelo.
From 1922-1940, little can be found about DeMarco’s whereabouts, though the 1927 murder of Joseph Zanghi and Vincent Cocozza involving Joseph Ida and Salvatore Sabella amongst others should be considered. A ‘John Marko’ of New Brunswick was involved alongside Joseph Bruno. John Marko may be an alias of one of the DeMarco brothers.
A 1940 census report details Alfred DeMarco living in Highland Park, N.J. (his obituary states he was there since c.1938). This is the same route as Philadelphia Boss Joe Ida took, who lived in Philadelphia before he relocated to Highland Park. Census records show he was there by 1930. In 1957, Captain Walter L. Simpson of the Middlesex County’s Prosecutors’s Office stated that, “it is his understanding that Ida originally came to New Jersey from Pennsylvania under the sponsorship of Joe Bruno.”
A 1950 census report details that Alfred DeMarco completed “all around work” for a wholesale beer corporation. This company was, The High Grade Beverage Firm, of New Brunswick, a beer distribution company owned by DeMarco’s brother, Nicholas. Eight years earlier, in 1942, his other brothers, Guido and Arnold were indicted as part of a liquor ring in Philadelphia. A 1959 FBI file states, “the DeMarcos [Alfred and Nicholas], until the 1940s, were associated with Joe Bruno, a New Jersey racket leader until his death in the early 1940s [1946]. Since that time, the DeMarcos have operated High Grade and have not been known locally to have engaged in early illegal activity.” Celeste Morello names an ‘Albie’ as a close companion of Joseph Bruno, in her book, Before Bruno: Book 2.
Former Boss Joe Bruno, like Alfred DeMarco and Joe Ida is another who headed North to Middlesex County, this time New Brunswick, having previously lived in Bristol, PA.
A second 1959 FBI file, referring to 1950, suggests a relationship between Alfred DeMarco and Philadelphia Family Boss at the time, Joe Ida. “…in 1950, an automobile registered to Alfred DeMarco, Highland Park, New Jersey registration KF 345, was seen in front of Joe Ida’s home. …DeMarco was at one time associated with Joe Bruno.” Other cars identified in the vicinity of Ida’s Highland Park residence by law enforcement at this time belonged to LCN members Dominic Festa and Pasquale Massi. The connection between the DeMarcos and Ida is confirmed in the previously mentioned file, “Joseph Ida…is believed to still be socially acquainted with the DeMarcos.”
In January 1961, Alfred’s brother Guido died. A 1969 FBI file states, “[Angelo] Bruno…told Peter [Maggio] to order flowers for Guido DeMarco. Peter said he had ordered floral arrangements at $30.00 a piece for Angelo Bruno and his family, the Michael Maggio family [Maggio had died in 1959], Pozi, not further identified, Johnny Casablanca [John Simone] and Charles Costello.”
The file goes on to state, “Guido DeMarco was a brother of “Little Albie” DeMarco and Arnold DeMarco, who are connected with Felix John DeTullio, whom the informant identified as a racket figure from Camden, N.J.” As of 1961, Felix DeTullio, Philadelphia-born with Abruzzese heritage (as were the DeMarco brothers), with his Father, also Felice being from Bomba, Chieti, was a Capodecina in the Philadelphia LCN Family.
Unlike his brothers Alfred and Nicholas, Arnold DeMarco spent the majority of his life in Philadelphia.
As of 1957, “Arnold and his brother [Guido?] were operating an exterminating service” in Philadelphia. A 1962 FBI file reports that “Angelo Bruno, Fred Iezzi, and Bruno’s son, Michael Bruno, were discussing Universal Exterminating Company, which was first a partnership of Arnold DeMarco and Felix John DeTullio. DeTullio thereafter went to a lawyer and bought 50% interest, then ran this business alone.”
Arnold had a long list of arrests; lottery, suspicious character, violating liquor control act, violating internal revenue laws. His name appeared in Angelo Bruno’s address book that was obtained by the Philadelphia Police in March 1961. When questioned by law enforcement in June 1961, Arnold DeMarco stated that he “has never been engaged in any activity, legal or illegal, with Angelo Bruno.” In August 1961, Arnold moved to Middlesex County, when he purchased a restaurant in Franklin Park. He died there in 1963.
A 1962 FBI file reported Alfred DeMarco’s death, “[Felix] John DeTullio visited [Angelo] Bruno 7/14/62, was told by Bruno of death [of] Alfred DeMarco, aka Albie, at New Brunswick, N.J., 7/13/62. Private viewing Highland Park, N.J., 7/14/62, public viewing Philadelphia 7/16/62. Obvious from attention given to news of death that DeMarco close to Bruno, probably “friend of ours.” ”
“John Simone, Trenton, instructed by Bruno to get seven bouquets [of] flowers at $10.00 each for DeMarco funeral. Flowers designated as from Bruno, John Simone, Edward Braylinski, Michael Trammantana, Michael Cammarata, Carl Ippolito, Charles Costello, all believed Amico Nostro.” (Edward “Brownie” Braylinski not a made member).
A subsequent 1962 FBI file reads, “Viewing Alfred DeMarco, Highland Park, NJ, Checked July 17, 8:40 to 9:30 PM. Large number persons present. Twenty cars with NJ registration observed in area. Newark will be requested to identify. Bruno not seen.”
In December 1962, several Philadelphia LCN members met with Angelo Bruno for a holiday drink. During a recorded conversation, Bruno reflected on recent times and said, “We lost a lot of good people, we lost (word inaudible), Phil’s father [Salvatore Testa, 1950], Mr Maggio [Michele Maggio, 1959] … gentlemen, all gentlemen. That Albie over there, he was a real nice person. I’ll tell you, Albie was really a gentleman, a nice person.” Frank Nicolletti follows this with, “He was a nice, soft spoken fellow. We got nobody in New Brunswick, he was the last one. We got nobody there at all.”
A source, NK T-52, in March 1963 advised that, “individuals from the Trenton, New Jersey area had come to the Plainfield, New Brunswick and Perth Amboy areas in February, 1963 in an attempt to move in on the bookmaking and numbers rackets in these areas. Anthony Interdonato … seemed to be the individual who was contacting the local gamblers in this regard. Interdonato is known as an associate of Joseph Danzo and source surmises that Danzo may be making a move to become the leader in gambling activities, which position was held by Alby DeMarco prior to his death.”
Both Anthony “Nino“ Interdonato and Joseph “Whitey“ Danzo would go on to be linked to bookmaking, gambling and loansharking in Middlesex County. Interdonato died in 1972 following injuries suffered from gunshot wounds.
The fourth DeMarco brother, Nicholas, died in 1971.
