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Joseph Bozzo 1898 - 1969

Joseph Bozzo of Ringwood, Passaic County, NJ was born on August 24, 1898 in Paterson, and died at age 70 years old on June 19, 1969 in Pequannock Township, Morris County. Joseph Bozzo was buried at Laurel Grove Cemetery 295 Totowa Rd, in Totowa, Passaic County.

Joseph Bozzo

Joseph Good Bozzo

Ringwood, Passaic County, NJ 07456

August 24, 1898

Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

June 19, 1969

Pequannock Township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States

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Joseph Bozzo Joseph Bozzo (1898 - 1969)

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Joseph Bozzo's History: 1898 - 1969

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Introduction

Joseph's father was Louis Bozzo, who owned a silk factory in Biella, Italy. He had one sibling, a sister Mary. When Joseph Good Bozzo was 43, he was living in Passaic, New Jersey and he was working at Jersey Music Distributers in Passaic. He was 5 feet, 8.5 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. He had brown eyes, black hair, and a light complexion. But this doesn't give one any idea of the long, colorful life of Mr. Bozzo. He never married, was arrested several times (even standing trial for murder), and was a long-term behind the scenes force in North Jersey politics for decades. Wielding power in both Republican and (some) Democratic circles, he only held one job in government - as a legislative clerk for three years. But that job must have given him the knowledge to traverse the halls of power. Friends of his ranged from show business (the comedian Lou Costello) to gangsters (such as Willie Moretti and Chicago Fats) to politicians (Gov. A. Harry Moore). As his obituary says: " . . . a pledge from Bozzo was regarded with the same feeling of security as money in the bank." Seventy years on this earth, spent influencing the world around him. Read about Joseph Good Bozzo at Joseph Bozzo: Obituary
08/24

1898

Birthday

August 24, 1898

Birthdate

Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Joseph was Caucasian of Italian heritage.
Nationality & Locations

Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Joseph was a lifelong resident of northern New Jersey.
Professional Career

Joseph worked at Jersey Music Distributers in his 40's, but he is best known as "the power behind the throne" in northern New Jersey. Joseph only served as a legislative clerk for three years but he spend his lifetime working in politics behind the scene.
06/19

1969

Death

June 19, 1969

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Pequannock Township, Morris County, New Jersey United States
Death location

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Gravesite & Burial

mm/dd/yyyy
Funeral date
Laurel Grove Cemetery 295 Totowa Rd, in Totowa, Passaic County, New Jersey 07512, United States
Burial location
Obituary

The following obituary appeared in The Harold-News (Passaic, New Jersey) on 20 Jun 1969, Fri. on page 1 Joe Bozzo Dead Shadow Power by Edward J. Mullin (Staff Writer) An age has ended in Passaic County politics. Joseph G. Bozzo, Republican maker of decisions and of kings, ded yesterday in Chilton Memorial Hospital, Pequannock, of hear disease. He was 70. His funeral will follow a 10:30 am service Monday in Moore's Home for Funerals, Alps Road and Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne. The service will be by the Rev. George Dawson of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Paterson. Burial will be in Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa. Bozzo, who never married, is survived by his sister, Mrs. Mary Failla of Paterson. For many years he lived in Lakeview Avenue, Erskine Lakes, Ringwood. His death ends one of the longest - and least clearly defined - careers in North Jersey politics. Bozzo was not a particularly large man, but he gave an impression of bigness. Part of it may have been his authority in conversation. He had expressive eyes and he spoke with a king of drawl, often using his cigarette holder as a baton to emphasize his points. There was no question that Bozzo exerted an influence in Republican affairs in the county. But there has been little certainty on the scope and range of his influence; on the questions of how effective he was, and with whom he was most effective. These were questions of great interest during the 1968 fight for the Republican chairmanship. The supporters of the then-chairman Stephen Dudiak claimed that Bozzo was the real power behind the forces of Sherriff Frank J. Davenport and that Davenport, if he won, would be dominated by Bozzo. Davenport's people responded that Dudiak himself, during his several years as chairman, had been counseled by Bozzo. Bozzo himself supported the claim; he said he and Dudiak had had dinner together once a week through the preceding five years. He resented Dudiak's attempt to minimize their association. Davenport won the chairmanship, and it was assumed by many that Bozzo's hand was strengthened. But the general belief was that it had always been a reasonably strong hand through the county's modern political history. Bozzo almost never sat at the head table in political affairs. But he always had a good seat at one of the tables nearby. Many of the affairs he attended were successful largely through his efforts; he had an extraordinary ability to sell tickets for party fund-raising dinners. Bozzo listed himself as a textile manufacturer, the business that his father had brought to America from his native Italy, The father, Louis Bozzo, owned a silk factory in Biella, in the Piedmont section of Italy. Bozzo went there on a visit in 1950. His companion on the transoceanic flight was the late Lou Costell, the comedian. They had grown up together, and in later years Costello affirmed their old friendship with references to Bozzo during his public appearances. Bozzo also achieved national attention through the Senate Crime Investigating committee hearings durin the 1950s. Racketeer Abner (Longie) Zwillman said he knew Bozzo. "He's a politician," Zwillman said of Bozzo. Bozzo himself testified that he knew Zwillman and other gangsters like Willie Moretti, Anthony (Chicago Fats) Sabio and Joe Adonis. He said this in his testimony to the Kefauver Committee in Washington in 1951. Two years later he repeated parts of it to the legislative investigating committee in Trenton. And he told the committee that he had helped out the Republican state organization with a $25,000 loan for the 1946 general election. The $25,000, Bozzo said, was part of $45,000 that he had borrowed from Lou Costello. Bozzo also testified that he had been "very good friends" with former Gov. A. Harry Moore, a Democrat. Years earlier, Bozzo served as a legislative clerk for about three years. Although he spent his lifetime in politics, this brief and relatively insignificant service was his only time on the payroll. In 1940 he was proposed for appointment as secretary to the state Racing Commission. But this proposal was abandoned in the face of strenuous opposition. The specific beginning of Bozzo's political career is difficult to place. But by 1934 he was identified in a newspaper clipping as "Joseph Bozzo, gambler and McCutcheon's lieutenant in Haledon Borough." McCutcheon was the late John G. McCutcheon of Paterson, a Republican leader who eventually became secretary of state. The reference to Bozzo as a gambler may have alluded to the one conviction on his record. It came from a raid in 1926 on the Union League Club in Paterson, where five men were playing cards. Bozzo was not there at the time. But as an officer of the club he was indicted and eventually fined $1,000 and put on probation. In 1938 he received a full pardon from the charge. At 11 a.m. on Sept 1939 - a primary election day - Bozzo was stabbedd seven times in Barbour Street, Haledon. The stabbing happened after Bozzo reportedly attempted to stop a man from putting up anti-Bozzo posters. Bozzo freed himself by slipping out of his coat. His injuries were not serious. At that time Bozzo operated Veteran's Express, a trucking firm. His ticket, incidentally, won the Haledon contest that day. In June, 1934, Bozzo was charged with murder after a street altercation in Paterson. It followed a minor auto accident at Market and Hamilton Streets. As the other man fell during the conversation, his head struck the street and he died hours later. Bozzo stood trial for second-degree murder and was acquitted. It was part of a growing Bozzo legend that in later years he helped support the bereaved family. In politics, Bozzo's influence was for years felt to cross party lines. He enjoyed the reputation - an enviable one among politicians - of being absolutely true to his commitments; a pledge from Bozzo was regarded with the same feeling of security as money in the bank.

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Joseph Bozzo lived 6 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 70.

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2 Memories, Stories & Photos about Joseph

Kathy Pinna

32.9k+ favorites

09/13/2022

Joseph G. Bozzo

The photo of Joseph Bozzo that appeared with his obituary.

Date & Place: in New Jersey United States

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Kathy Pinna

32.9k+ favorites

09/13/2022

Joseph G Bozzo Gravesite

The grave of Joseph Bozzo in Totowa, New Jersey.

Date & Place: in Totowa, Passaic County, New Jersey United States

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Joseph Bozzo's Family Tree & Friends

Joseph Bozzo's Family Tree

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Joseph Bozzo Aug 24, 1898 - Jun 19, 1969

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