(Guardalabene comes up in passing in other places — this is a collection in one place of core notes.)
Born May 11, 1909 in Milwaukee to Giovanni Battista “Pete” Guardalabene and Angela Bellant. He was named for his paternal grandfather, who was the current Mafia boss in Milwaukee. At the time of young Vito’s birth, GB lived at 162 1/2 Detroit, next door to his father and in the same house as the Pietro Balistreri family. It was very much the center of the Third Ward.
1920: GB had moved into Vito’s house at 164 Detroit. One house over was mobster Carlo DiMaggio, and one house the other way was mobster Carmello Zarcone. Young Vito was surrounded by the mob life and grew up with the second and third generation Italian families, both good and bad.
Graduated Lincoln High School in 1927 and then attended Marquette University.
Graduated medical school in Minnesota 1935. He had done his residency at Ancker Hospital in St. Paul.
Married Katherine Waiderlis of Chicago circa 1940
daughter Charlotta “Carla” Guardalabene was born in Chicago on November 25, 1941.
Vito was a World War II veteran, though not clear in what capacity
1950: 5818 West Wisconsin Ave, physician and surgeon. He served on the staff at Deaconess Hospital and St. Michael Hospital.
Dr. Vito Guardalabene comes up for the first time in FBI files (to my knowledge) on October 7, 1961. An informant said Guardalabene was known to treat hoodlums if they were injured during a crime. Allegedly, within the last three months Guardalabene treated a man for gunshot wounds, but the informant would not say who.
December 30, 1961: An informant alerted the FBI to an article in the Milwaukee Journal about a testimonial dinner for Dr. Vito Guardalabene that was on December 27 at Gallagher’s, with dinner at $25 per plate. The dinner was arranged by Dominic Frinzi and Henry Piano. Also there was Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Buster Balestrere, John Alioto, Frank LaGalbo, Sam Ferrara, Steve DiSalvo, John Rizzo, Louis Fazio, Harold and Bernard Klein, Hymie Coren, and August Maniaci. Someone related to Izzy Pogrob (redacted, but probably Irvin) was there, which surprised an informant. The informant believed the dinner was a “front” and that some other business was being conducted. (Personally, I find it odd that Louis Fazio would be at the same place as so many of these others… convicted murderer and child trafficker?) On January 6, the same informant said he had since learned that also at the dinner were mobsters from Kansas City, New York, and “the West,” but he did not know why or know their names. Possibly someone from Detroit was there. Another informant said the dinner was a celebration of Frank Balistrieri formally taking over the family. Yet another informant (female) said she was at the dinner and saw two men from Kansas City she believed were related to Balistrieri, but did not know their names (the FBI agent she spoke to believed one to be John Molle). One of the informants said Guardalabene was “sick” when he realized the dinner was more about inviting hoodlums to celebrate than to honor his work.
Others in attendance at the Guardalabene testimonial: Judge Robert Curley, Judge Thaddeus Pruss, Judge Robert Hansen, Judge Harvey Neelen, Judge William O’Neil, Judge Michael Sullivan, Judge Christ Seraphim, city attorney John Fleming, clerk of court Raymond Fleming, sheriff George Witkowski, deputy distrist attorney Aladdin deBrozzo, county supervisor Joseph Greco, and Angelo Provinzano, the chairman of the city’s Civil Service Commission. Union reps Ben Barwick, Phil Valley, Roy Lane, and frank ranney were there. William B. Frank, president of the City Bank and Trust Company, was also present.
February 24, 1962: Frank Balistrieri was “in conference” with Dominic Frinzi and Dr. Vito Guardalabene at Gallagher’s.
On the evening of September 10, 1962 Joseph Gurera was back in Milwaukee at a meeting at Gallagher’s. At the Milwaukee meeting were Steve DiSalvo, Buster Balestrere, Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Dr. Vito Guardalabene and three men from out of town.
On September 16, 1963, Agent Farrington spoke with an informant about Dr. Vito Guardalabene, who had his office at 233 (or 238?) West Wisconsin Avenue. He was told that the doctor was “possibly” a member of the Outfit and was known to treat them for medical problems in the past. About a year prior, Guardalabene had a heart attack and had been taking it easy since then. Another informant said he did not think that the doctor was in the mob, nor did he know of any time he ever helped any member.
The Ad Lib night club held a “sending off” party for Dr. Vito Guardalabene on November 9, 1967. Guardalabene was going to visit his daughter Carla in Spain and also planned to stop in Italy. At the party were numerous hoodlums and gamblers, including Dominic Principe, Vito Seidita, Steve DiSalvo, Joe Caminiti, John Alioto, Frank and Peter Balistrieri, Joseph Balistrieri (Sr.), Nick Fucarno, Louis Fazio, Anthony Cefalu, Tony Machi and Albert Albana.
Dr. Vito Guardalabene, 59, of 6826 West Wisconsin Avenue, Wauwatosa, died on Tuesday, September 3, 1968. He had suffered his second stroke in June and was in the hospital for a gall bladder ailment at the time of his death. Direct cause was said to be cerebral artery arteriosclerosis.