Salvatore Bufalino: a man of splendid personality
One of the other Bufalinos
Pittston LCN member Luigi “Luis” Consagra once gave a snippet of information to law enforcement about two sets of Bufalinos that lived in Pittston. The first branch were made up of brothers Angelo (1864-1904), Lorenzo (c1867-1967?), Calogero (1878-1960) and Sam. Angelo (father of future Boss Russell Bufalino) died as a result of a gas explosion at a mine in 1904, Lorenzo (grandfather of member Angelo (1930-2013) returned to Italy, whilst Sam, never seems to have made the journey from Montedoro. From this branch, Calogero, once described as “a powerful man in the [LCN] organization” was the only brother who seemed to survive, thrive and remain in the Pittston area.
A second group of brothers that Consagra detailed (who were second cousins to the first group) were composed of Salvatore (1868-1936), Rosario (1873-1945) and Nicolo (1876-1939). This trio all remained in Pittston until their deaths, with one being the most prominent.
Having worked in the Gibillini sulphur mines, Salvatore Tulumello Bufalino immigrated from Montedoro in 1901, headed for Pittston, with an intended destination of his brother-in-law Pietro Licata. His wife Paolina Licata (a second cousin of John C. Montana) would die in 1902 before ever joining Salvatore, and in 1904, he would marry again, to Luigia Gallanti.
Second cousins Angelo and Calogero Bufalino named Salvatore as their ‘brother’ when they immigrated in 1903. Member and brother of Luigi, Calogero Consagra, also had the address of Salvatore as his destination on his 1903 immigration record, naming him his Uncle. Though Calogero Consagra’s wife was Onofria Licata, a link cannot be found between her and Salvatore’s first wife Paulina.
In 1907, Salvatore was discharged from custody following an arrest as part of a Pittston Black Hand group. Other notable names involved included, his brother Nicolo, his second cousin Calogero, Stefano Latorre, Calogero Consagra and Salvatore Volpe (cousin/brother of Santo).
Salvatore and brother Nicolo applied for a liquor license in 1911, for 43 Railroad, Pittston. In 1913, this saloon was bombed, with none of Salvatore, Nicola or second cousin Calogero (reported as a brother in newspaper reports) being hurt. Reports suggests Black Hand involvement. Salvatore stated he hadn’t received any Black hand letters and had quashed a rumour of a quarrel with some of his countrymen.
In 1920, Salvatore was living in the heart of Pittston’s Italian community and within a stones throw of several LCN members/future members.
By 1925, Salvatore was President of Pittston’s Montedoro Society.
An article in a 1926 newspaper, celebrating his birthday, names him “a man of splendid personality” as well as “one of the most prominent and influential businessman in the community.” As of this time, Salvatore had a large general store and a bottling works. Son Bill reported he also owned a cafe and a travel agency, and that, “he [Salvatore] would send steamship tickets to others in Montedoro and elsewhere in Italy, so they could come to this country. Then he would get them jobs in the mines, so they could pay him back for the tickets, and he would give them credit in the store.”
A 1920 census lists Salvatore’s job as a Grocer, with brother Nicolo’s, a soft drink manufacture.
A 1967 FBI file reported Salvatore associated with LCN members Angelo Polizzi and Joseph Barbara during the 1920s.
In 1930, a marriage bonded Salvatore’s family with another important Pittston figure. His son Charles J. married a daughter of Santo Volpe. In 1945, another son, LCN member William ‘Bill’ Bufalino would marry Marie Meli, daughter of Detroit LCN member Frank Meli.
In November 1936 Salvatore Bufalino died following a short illness of pneumonia. Honorary funeral bearers from Buffalo included Buffalo LCN member John Montana, John’s brother Peter Montana (who was the Buffalo Montedoro Society chairman c.1937) and Andrew Sciandra (brother of John, future Pittston Boss).
Salvatore’s brothers Nicolo and Rosario died in 1939 and 1945 respectively.