Nunzio Maniaci

Nunzio Maniaci was born on January 20, 1881 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy to Giuseppe Maniaci and Margherita “Margaret” Scalici. He married Rose Mercurio on April 22, 1906 in Milwaukee, WI with Giovanni Battista Guardalabene (son of the Milwaukee Mafia boss, Vito Guardalabene, at the time) as his best man. The Maniacis had 10 sons, including August and Vincent Maniaci. Nunzio died on May 16, 1962 in Milwaukee, and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Maniaci was involved in the Milwaukee Mafia, as were at least three of his sons.

Arrival and Naturalization

• Nunzio Maniaci arrived in the United States on December 19, 1902, entering the port of New York from Palermo, Sicily, Italy via the vessel named Prinz Oscar.
• Maniaci’s Declaration of Intention was signed on April 10, 1917
• Maniaci’s Petition for Naturalization was filed May 1, 1917
  • Witnesses:
    • Tony Bellant, city employee, 339 Jackson St, Milwaukee
    • Joseph Giulii, clerk, 2203 Chestnut St, Milwaukee

Bars and Restaurants

• Canadian Club Cocktail Lounge – Southeast corner of Jefferson and Detroit Streets
• Pop Maniaci’s – 1902 E. North Ave, Milwaukee.
• August Maniaci filed for bankruptcy on May 26, 1958 in Milwaukee. His business, Club Midnight, was taken over by his father, Nunzio “Pops” Maniaci.

World War II

Benito Mussolini was an Italian political leader who became the fascist dictator of Italy from 1925 to 1945. Mussolini and Adolf Hitler were allies during World War II. On July 25, 1943, Mussolini is voted out of power by his own Grand Council and arrested upon leaving a meeting with King Vittorio Emanuele.

When Mussolini was voted out of power in 1943, Nunzio Maniaci said, “I hope Italy now makes peace with this country [the United States]. The people don’t like Mussolini but they like the king. The house of Savoy, that’s famous. Italians will fight with the Allies.”

His son Vincent, who had received a medical discharge, said, “It’s good news for us; it’s good news for them, too.”

Italy surrendered on September 8, 1943, causing a great rejoicing in the Third Ward, as the Italians would no longer have to fight their cousins.

Nunzio Maniaci had four sons in the service and said, “We were sorry — for our boys and theirs. We wanted America to win. And now we’re happy that we do not have to fight our own people anymore.”

Mussolini was executed by firing squad shortly after the German surrender in Italy in 1945.