Most people only needed to refer to him as "Tony" --- during Caracciolo's heyday, he was "Tony" and powerhouse Anthony J. [Tony] Genovesi was "Tony Genovesi"
"Carach," as Mr. Caracciolo was sometimes called, was one of the last conservative-leaning Democrat District Leaders --- his "old 51st" covered southern Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, "Sunboro...", Sunset Park above Third &/or Fourth Avenues, and briefly, a sliver of Bay Ridge out to Ovington Avenue
In the late 70s and early 80s, he was openly socially conservative --- just like his boss long-time City Council Speaker Tom Cuite
As late as the early 1980s, "Tony" was seeking RTL endorsements for his favored Democrat candidates --- In 1980, "Carach" wanted to back "Honey" Flynn, an RTL-endorsed Democrat against incumbent Joe Ferris, but Tony's co-leader, Louise Finney, and Democrat County Leader Meade Esposito intervened, and during that primary Tony's club stayed "neutral," while Finney worked for Ferris.
Tony was often laughed at by the other Democrat District leaders, but his power was real; and he held on for many years after the CBID "reformers" were sure they could take him out --- he certainly outlasted Joe Ferris.....
BACKFILL: THE "DETAILS" EDITION
ReplyDeleteAnthony Caracciolo Attorney, political aide and Surrogate's official in NYC
Anthony Caracciolo, 90, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., and resided in Rahway, N.J., passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 20, 2018. Visitation will be held at the Krowicki Gorny Memorial Home, 211 Westfield Ave., Clark, N.J., on Monday, July 23, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Agnes Church, 332 Madison Hill Rd., Clark, at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 24. Entombment will follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, N.J. Anthony was married to Francesca M. Caracciolo for over 59 years and had two children, Angela and Maria, and four grandchildren, Michael, Joseph, Robert and Steven. Anthony was a graduate of Fordham University and St. John's Law School. In 1982 he received an honorary degree from St. John's Law School. Mr. Caracciolo served in the U.S Army during the Korean War and was discharged as sergeant 1st class in 1952. He practiced law in New York State. Along with being active in local politics and community School Board 7 in Brooklyn, N.Y., he served as counsel to the majority leader, Thomas J. Cuite of the New York City council from 1970 to 1984 and was the chief clerk of the surrogate's court of Kings County from 1984 to 1998. He was an active member of the South Brooklyn Lions, serving as president, a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Lawyers, American Legion, and Columbian Lawyers, along with many other organizations. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions in his name to South Brooklyn Lions Club, 395 5th Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.11215.
[Published in Star-Ledger on July 22, 2018]
Tony Caracciolo and Tony Genovesi were two very different people.
ReplyDeleteTony Genovesi a/k/a "Fat Tony" was strictly into the patronage and free lunches in Albany. I recall the NY Post had him on the cover labeling him "king of the no show jobs". His version of so called reform caused the legislature to quadruple the amount of money it spent on staff over a decade.
Tony C a/k/a "Carach" was the last of the old time district leaders who was on the community board and held court in his clubhouse on Mondays & Thursdays. People in the neighborhood could go to him and he often helped. A gentleman and his word meant something. Carach was genuine.
They were in different places in the old days as they are now.
Tony was a gentleman of the old school.
ReplyDeleteIn 1977, he personally worked a line-by-line objection to knock me off the ballot for City Council, when I ran against his boss, Tom Cuite. I was nearby when he finished his work on my petition. He put his paperwork away, shook my hand, and said, "We'll see you in November."
Five years later, we were both District Leaders in the old 51st A.D., and we occasionally found ourselves on the same side in various civic and community disputes. He was a decent man, and he lived a full life. Condolences to his family, and all who knew him.
Tony always had a tough race for re-election every 2 years. When there was talk of Meade stepping down in the 1970's Tony, and Frank Santo, were talked about as the new county leader. Always a sharp dresser and his instincts were better than people thought.
ReplyDelete"Meade" Esposito was the Kings County Democratic Party Executive Chairman from 1969 until the beginning of 1984, when he turned the Brooklyn party apparatus over to Howard Golden.
ReplyDeleteTom Cuite. A man soon forgotten.
ReplyDeleteSadly, one of the first people to forget who Tom Cuite was and what he did happened to be Tom Cuite himself. The world he fought to save changed forever during his lifetime and he didn't even know it at the end, he pretty much thought it was still the 1930s & 40s, and like Father Coughlin before the split, it was "Ruin or Roosevelt."
ReplyDeleteAnd after decades of being the real power in New York City, all poor Tom got was a crappy little overgrown park at the edge of a highway exit. Sad, if you really think about it.
ReplyDeleteIF you're going to mention important people that Tony Caracciolo knew, had been close to and worked with/for, you shouldn't forget "The Sheriff," Jimmy Mangano, aka "The King-maker." He was Tony's "good uncle," who picked Tony to run as leader in the then-new 51st AD. And, of course, there was Bernie Bloom, who with Tony C. stole the Kings County Surrogate spot away from Meade, the Canarsie crowd, and most of the Brooklyn Democratic organization. That coup spelled the end of the Meade Esposito regime; and it was a bit of "inside pool" payback for uncle Jimmy, whose turn at becoming County Leader had been blocked by Meade's coup in 1969.
ReplyDeleteBut Meade made a series of bad moves for Governor. In '74 he backed Howard Samuels against Hugh Carey and lost. Same in '82 Meade backed Koch against Cuomo. After that Fat Tony Genovesi and the Canarsie crew were going to make a move against Meade.
ReplyDeleteMeade left the next year and in '83 installed Howard Golden and Fucked Genovesi.
Hate to correct you about 1980, but Finney did not work for Ferris in 1980; in fact, she ran against him. Here's the proof: https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=490903
ReplyDeleteRESPONSE: THE "ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS SAY IT" EDITION
ReplyDeleteTO: GATEMOUTH, YOU OLD SUNOFAGUN
I DON'T KNOW HOW I MADE THAT MISTAKE..... HOWEVER, ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS CORRECT IT BASED ON YOUR OWN RECOLLECTION, AND IT WOULD HAVE JOGGED MY MEMORY --- I ACTUALLY WAS QUITE ACTIVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THOSE DAYS AND IT WAS IN THE OLD 51ST A.D.
I remember that Billy Carroll ran against Tony, and I think Lorraine Conroy ran against Louise for the Leadership/State Committee spots, but I forgot that Louise went after Joe in 1980, as well. I do remember her run against Jim Brennan when Ferris stepped down in '84 I think.