Frank Buccieri (1919-2004)
Frank Paul Buccieri was born on January 23, 1919 in Chicago to Salvatore and Luigina “Louise” (Cesario) Buccieri. Frank’s parents married on July 22, 1902 in Chicago, and had 12 children (two died in infancy). Out of their ten surviving children, Frank was number nine.
Frank Buccieri “The Horse” was the Outfit’s connection to Palm Springs, and the younger brother of Fiore Buccieri “Fifi”. His association with Sally Papia is his most notable connection to the Milwaukee Mafia. [Sally was not a member, but she was affiliated with various mafia members. She was also an adversary of Frank Balistrieri.]
Frank Buccieri passed away March 8, 2004 in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park. He was 85, and died a natural death.
Wives and Relationships
Frank married Edna Martina Peart on November 1, 1941. Together they had three children.
In 1965, Frank had Playboy bunny Patti Reynolds, 17, as a paramour. She was also the daughter of a former state’s attorney. Buccieri gave a her a horse named Frankie as a gift, which was stabled at the New Parkway Riding Stables at 2153 North Clark. When agents tried to contact her at her studio apartment in November 1965, she told them her attorney advised her not to talk. While dating Buccieri, Reynolds was Playboy’s Playmate of the Month (yes, still at 17).
In January 1966, Patti Reynolds was subpoenaed by a Federal Grand Jury. She was in Mexico with Buccieri at the time.
In July 1966, Edna Buccieri filed for separation maintenance, citing large gifts that Frank gave to Reynolds. When questioned by the FBI, Edna said she did not find out about Reynolds until July when her mother told her, as she had been with Frank in Las Vegas at the time of the federal grand jury. She said the affair upset her son Kenneth so much that he dropped out of college and joined the Green Berets.
In September 1966, Buccieri accused FBI agents of breaking up his home by subpoenaing Patti Reynolds, and claimed to not have seen his children in five months.
By 1970, Frank had broken things off with Patti Reynolds and became involved with restaurant owner Sally Papia of Milwaukee. In January, Buccieri was rumored to be taking over Frank Balistrieri’s King’s IV tavern (he didn’t). Agents interviewed Reynolds in May and asked her why Buccieri was in Milwaukee. She responded, “Is he cheating on me?” When asked if she cared, she said no, that Buccieri had moved out and that while she still has his horse, it had become old and mean.
In January 1971, Frank was in Acapulco, Mexico with Sally Papia where they were alleged to get married. There is no evidence that the ceremony took place.
After years of “will they, won’t they,” Frank and Sally Papia were married without any fanfare in Goldfield, Nevada on August 5, 1976. The marriage did not last and they quietly divorced November 13, 1980 in Washoe, Nevada.
Just weeks later, on November 28, 1980 Frank married a woman named Jackie in El Dorado, California.
Crime
[See also: FBI Files]
In July 1936, Frank was convicted of petty larceny along with Gino Antonelli and Joseph Rossi. He was given six months probation. The judge agreed to waive jail time in exchange for Fiore Buccieri whipping his younger brother with a rubber hose in court. In October 1937, he was picked up on general principles. Again in March 1954.
In 1961, Frank came to the attention of the Miami Police Department while they were investigating Frank Rosenthal’s attempted bribe of University of Oregon halfback Mickey Bruce. Rosenthal’s phone records showed he had called Buccieri eight times prior to the bribe offer.
In February 1964, Chicago police claimed Buccieri was the financial backer of Joseph and Donald Grieco’s Independent Loan Company which was at that time involved in over $100,000 in “juice” loans.
By April 1967, Frank had Dominick Cortina running handbooks for him.
In August 1968, Frank was arrested with Joseph Ferriola in Las Vegas at Caesars palace for being undesirables. Despite having $2440 in his pocket, Buccieri was charged with vagrancy. He failed to appear in court and forfeited his $25 bond. Buccieri was again arrested for vagrancy while at the Stardust in July 1969 and again paid the $25 bond.
In July 1971, Sally Papia’s Milwaukee residence was burglarized and jewelry was taken. Buccieri, with help from Frank Trovato, Vic Cardella and Max Adonnis, tracked the jewelry down to a barber and a dentist. The incident created unwanted publicity for Buccieri in Milwaukee. There were rumors that Buccieri was trying to take the place of Frank Balistrieri (who was in prison), but that this incident ruined his chances.
When Fiore Buccieri died on August 17, 1973, it put the leadership of his crew into question. Frank was suggested to take his brother’s place, but he did not want the position and instead asked to be semi-independent, being under but not answering to his new boss.
In December 1975, Frank had a $1,539 tax lien filed against him.
In 1982, Frank was investigated for the possible corruption of a Fresno County deputy sheriff, and was also threatening to “crack heads” if $50 per day was not paid by a local video parlor.
Employment
From 1946 until January 1954, he was a partner in the Illinois Furniture and Appliance Company.
In 1961, Frank was the vice president of the Frontier Finance Corporation. Ex-convict Ralph DelGenio had borrowed money from this company at the time of his murder in June 1961. The business was sold to Mercantile Financial Corporation in September 1963.
From March 1962 until April 1966, Frank was a partner in Moeller Brothers Furniture Company and served as the secretary-treasurer. He was also the vice president of B&B Finance Company during this time. Moeller Brothers later suffered a devastating fire.
In September 1962, the Vic Damone Pizza Corporation was chartered and Buccieri was listed as director. Joseph Grieco was also a director, with brother Donald Grieco as secretary-treasurer.
In April 1963, Frank owned 2% of the Golf Club Management Company, which worked out to around $3,000. He had served on the company’s board for around seven weeks.
By April 1972, Frank had bought a half-interest in Sorini’s restaurant at 8406 West 26th Street, North Riverside, installed Frank Trovato of Milwaukee as head bartender and changed the name to the Riverside.
Around March 1987, Frank Buccieri was believed to be assisting Peter Balistrieri in providing financial backing for Trovato’s Pasta House (owned by Frank A. Trovato Jr.), 1601 North Jackson in Milwaukee, which was formerly a Balistrieri-owned restaurant called Pizzino’s and before that, Fazio’s.
General Information & Criminal Associations
As a small child, the family lived at 1431 Plum Street, Chicago, in a heavily Italian neighborhood, and Salvatore worked as a porter, retiring around 1925. The family lived at 810 Paulina Avenue, Chicago from 1930-1940, again surrounded by Italian families.
From 1946 until January 1954, Frank lived at 3054 North Natchez, Chicago in January 1952.
By March 1954, he had upper plates (dentures) in his mouth.
In December 1959, Frank stayed at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco under the name Frank Bruno.
Frank lived at 1028 South Greenwood in Park Ridge from 1962 until June 1965, then briefly stayed at the Park Ridge Inn while their new home was being completed.
In November 1962, stayed at the Plaza Hotel in Spain while attending the Norge Dealers Convention.
Frank lived at 2020 West Arthur, Park Ridge from July 1965 until 1966.
In September 1966, Frank was seen at the Duncan YMCA with Joseph Ferriola, David Yaras and Frank Rosenthal. He was seen again in November, this time with Ferriola, Fiore Buccieri, James Torello and Donald Angelini.
In October 1966, Frank went on a hunting trip to Montana with Fiore Buccieri, Salvatore Gruttadauro and Joseph Ferriola.
Throughout 1967, Frank attended many events at the Santa Fe Saddle and Gun Club, where Reynolds now kept her horse. Many other Outfit members and associated also attended these events. The club, operated by nightclub entertainer Billy Falbo, raised a stir in 1967 by throwing a “testimonial” party for Fiore Buccieri in the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago.
By January 1967, he began regularly attending Chicago Blackhawk games with Donald Angelini and Joseph Ferriola.
Frank lived at 7315 Dixon Street in Forest Park with Reynolds from October 1967 through 1969.
Buccieri spent a fair amount of time at the West Suburban Hospital in April and May 1968 after falling ill at Como Inn with paroxysmal hypertension and blocked sinuses. He was able to get away from the hospital long enough to watch the Blackhawk playoff games with Joseph Ferriola and Anthony Catizone.
In October 1968, Frank applied for a passport through the Nitti Travel Service. He told them he planned to leave in December for Italy, Spain, England and France.
At the end of March 1970, Buccieri stayed a few nights at the Canyon Hotel in Palm Springs. Phone records indicated he called Milwaukee and the Belcourt Artist Agency of Beverly Hills, as well as his estranged wife.
In April 1971, Buccieri was staying at a rented house with Sally Papia at 2705 Livmor Avenue in Palm Springs.
Frank met with Richard Cain and a safety inspector from the Illinois Department of Labor at the Riverside restaurant in December 1973, one week before Cain was killed.
In late April 1974, one week after holding Buccieri’s daughter’s wedding reception, the Riverside was destroyed by arson and nine containers of gasoline were found in the basement. The building was insured for $568,000. An informant suspected one-armed Max Adonnis of being the perpetrator.
By November 1974, Frank took up residence at 2343 South Yosemite Drive, Palm Springs with Sally Papia. The home is located within the Indian Canyons Golf Resort.
In 1986, he lived at 2020 Navajo Street, Palm Springs. In January and February 1987, stayed in Las Vegas at a comped room at the Americana-Canyon Hotel. He met with various people, including Herbie Blitzstein, and played golf.
Sources
– FBI Files: 92-HQ-6736 (Frank Buccieri), 166-HQ-6173 (Frank Buccieri), 179-HQ-719 (Frank Buccieri)
– Genealogy records: Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949 (Frank Buccieri), Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968 (Buccieri/Peart), Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005 (Buccieri/Papia), Social Security Death Index, US Federal Census, 1920, 1930, 1940