Anthony M. Scibelli Explained

Anthony Moreno Scibelli
State House:Massachusetts
District:10th Hampden
Term Start:1950
Term End:October 16, 1999
Preceded:Daniel J. Bresnahan
Succeeded:Cheryl Coakley-Rivera
Birth Date:October 16, 1911
Birth Place:Springfield, Massachusetts
Residence:Springfield, Massachusetts
Death Place:Springfield, Massachusetts
Restingplace:Saint Michaels Cemetery
Party:Democrat
Spouse:Lea (Baraldi) Scibelli

Anthony M. Scibelli (1911-1998) was the longest-serving representative in the history of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He served the South End of Springfield, Massachusetts, the Tenth District in Hampden County, for 48 years, until he died in 1999.[1]

Early life

Anthony M. Scibelli was born Antony Moreno Scibelli in Springfield, Massachusetts, on October 16, 1911. He was the son of recent immigrants from Italy, Andrea Scibelli and Filomena Ciccarella. Anthony was born at home on Water Street in the South End, a center of Italian community in Springfield.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Anthony has an older brother and two younger sisters. There was also an older son named Anthony who died in infancy.[6] [7]

His father, Andrea, was a laborer, then a barber in 1911. In 1920, he managed a billiards parlor. In 1930, the year before Anthony graduated from Cathedral High School, his father, called Andrew Scibelli, worked as a real estate agent.[8]

Political career

In 1937, Anthony M. Scibelli entered local politics as a Democrat. The impetus for his decision was a local trucking company that, in Scibelli's view, enjoyed an unfair advantage in securing contracts with the city. He ran for city council and served for twelve years.

In 1950, Scibelli was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He served for forty-eight years, setting the record for the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1999, his record was exceeded by just two other state legislators in the United States.

Tony Scibelli was known as a man of the people. He attributed his longevity as a politician to the personal satisfaction he derived from helping others. He was known as "The Dean" of the House.

In 1965, he was appointed chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[9]

Real Estate

In addition to his civil service, Scibelli was a real estate broker. He owned property in Blandford, Vineyard Haven, Agawam, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham and Springfield, in Massachusetts. In Florida, he owned condominiums in Fort Lauderdale and Lauderdale Lakes, and an apartment in Hollywood.[10] [11]

Personal life

In 1940, Scibelli married his high school classmate, Lea Baraldi.[12] They had no children.[13]

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Elks, Eagles, Sons of Italy, and the Ludlow Country Club.[14]

Scibelli had a son around 1964 with Shirley A. Fowell, who was named Michael A. Mellberg. Mellberg changed his name to Michael A. Scibelli in 1986.

In March 1989, Anthony and Lea Scibelli donated $30,000 to an endowment fund at Cathedral High School, their alma mater.[15]

Connection to Al Bruno

In April 1989, Anthony M. Scibelli wrote a letter of reference to the state Advisory Board of Pardons on behalf of Springfield Mafia boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno. Bruno wanted a pardon for a 1966 conviction for possession of stolen goods: a crime he denied committing. Parole board member and future Springfield mayor Michael J. Albano was quoted in the news, saying the pardon was unlikely to be approved.

Death

Scibelli died from pneumonia on 18 September 1998. He was 86. Although he was too ill to campaign or even vote in the primary election, Scibelli won his party's nomination to retain his position as House representative for the Tenth District.

He was buried with his parents in Saint Michaels Cemetery.[16]

A bust bearing his likeness was unveiled on the one-year anniversary of his death.[17] The bust was stolen from its location outside the Mount Carmel Society, and its base damaged, in 2016.[18]

Lea B. Scibelli, his widow, passed away at the age of 105 from COVID-19 on May 18, 2020 in Agawam.[19]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Anthony Scibelli dies; served longest in Mass. legislature.” Published 19 September 1998 in Providence Journal. P. A-19.
  2. "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXJB-FDK : 11 March 2018), Andrea Scibello in entry for Antonio M. Scibello, 16 Sep 1911, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; citing reference ID #p 215, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,409,218.
  3. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JK62-Q4D : 20 May 2014), Anthony M Scibelli, 18 Sep 1998; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  4. "Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZTB-QPQ : 4 December 2014), Anthony M Scibelli, 18 Sep 1998; from "Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Springfield, Massachusetts, death certificate number 049516, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Health Services, Boston.
  5. Anthony M. Scibelli (Obituary). Published 20 September 1998 in The Orlando Sentinel. P. A18.
  6. "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXJ8-K4S : 11 March 2018), Andrea Scibelli in entry for Antonio Mariano Scibelli, 24 Sep 1908, Springfield, Massachusetts; citing reference ID #p 204, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,315,250.
  7. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRNN-DDT?cc=1488411&wc=QZJY-3CQ%3A1036470801%2C1037423801%2C1037582801%2C1589332945 : 16 December 2015), Massachusetts > Hampden > Springfield Ward 3 > ED 122 > image 39 of 44; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  8. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RH7-2FQ?cc=1810731&wc=QZF3-XHC%3A648804401%2C649977101%2C648856901%2C1589282508 : 10 December 2015), Massachusetts > Hampden > Springfield > ED 44 > image 33 of 48; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
  9. “Scibelli Chairman Of House Ways And Means.” Greenfield Recorder-Gazette. 13 January 1965. P. 11.
  10. STAFF. (1996, September 21). Candidate targets Scibelli land. Union-News (Springfield, MA), p. B2. Available from NewsBank: Access World News: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0F2F098049EC6369.
  11. SMITH, B. (1999, Apr 11). Scibelli's mystery endures. Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA), p. A01.. Retrieved from https://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F2F0669CD3AA38B?p=AWNB
  12. Lea Baraldi Bride Of Anthony Scibelli. (1940, October 15). Springfield Republican.
  13. “Hundreds mourn Scibelli as original man of the people.” The Recorder (Greenfield, MA). 23 September 1998. P. 7.
  14. Archived biographical profile of State Representative Anthony M. Scibelli. (n.d.) Retrieved 25 October 2019 from https://web.archive.org/web/20001003190902/http://www.state.ma.us/legis/member/ams2.htm
  15. ELLEN O'SHEA, M. (1998, Mar 19). Cathedral High creates endowment. Union-News (Springfield, MA), p. B6.. Retrieved from https://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F2F06EFF300BBFE?p=AWNB
  16. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 28 August 2019), memorial page for Anthony M. Scibelli (unknown–18 Sep 1998), Find A Grave Memorial no. 64626786, citing Saint Michael's Cemetery, Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Mark Wing (contributor 47348447) .
  17. STAFF. (1999, Sep 20). Cries & Whispers too interesting to ignore. Union-News (Springfield, MA), p. A02.. Retrieved from https://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F2F0659CF5129CE?p=AWNB
  18. Steele, B. (2016, April 19). Bust of former Springfield state Rep. Anthony Scibelli stolen from South End memorial. The Republican. Retrieved 24 August 2019 from https://www.masslive.com/news/2016/04/bust_of_former_springfield_sta.html
  19. News: May 28, 2020 . Lea Scibelli - 1914 - 2020 . The Republican . September 9, 2022.

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