Ettore Zappi – “De Facto Consigliere”

Ettore Zappi's activities included labor racketeering and large-scale shylocking . He was active for over 65 years, amassing great wealth and largely avoiding public exposure and jail.

Ettore (Terry) Zappi was born 1905 (?) in Naples (Caserta), Italy. He resided for many years at 30 Club Drive in the waterfront community of Massapequa which had a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean. He also owned a snowbird residence at 2764 Northeast 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He settled in South Brooklyn by the 1920s.

FBI #386326

Ettore Zappi

Zappi had already been involved with the mob and seemed to have been involved in early conflicts and shootouts in that era. He became affiliated at some point with D’Aquila and Gambino.

He was active in bootlegging and was charged in New Jersey for prohibition violations but seemed to have avoided a jail term.

Labor Unions and Carlo Gambino

By the mid to late- 1940s, he became afifiliated in labor union activity. He actually became an official of Teamsters Local # 854 where he thrived for many years.

One of his biggest targets for unionization was the Castro Convertible Co. Zappi organized it, and in 1957, took over ownership of the company.

Building advertising for Castro Convertible Co.

In spite of Local #854 being one of the smaller locals (with less than 1500 members), and because of its stranglehold on several key companies in several industries, it still became a valuable asset to the Gambino Family.

By this time, he and Carlo Gambino became very close friends and associates.

With Gambino’s rise in the Family to the boss' seat, Zappi was made a “Capo di decine,” presiding over a large crew which included John Allu, Steve and Frank (Frankie Dap) Dapolito and Natale (Chris) Richichi, Frank (The Wop) Gagliardi, his son Anthony (Tony) Zappi, and others.

By the early 1960s, he had bought lots and built a beautiful oceanfront home in Massapequa for himself and his “compare” Carlo Gambino.

Ettore Zappi and Carlo Gambino

As next-door neighbors, their relationship grew even closer, and it could be argued that Ettore Zappi rose to become Gambino’s top Capo and adviser (actually serving more in the capacity of a de facto Consigliere than Capo per se.)

Joseph N. Gallo had the official title of Consigliere, but Zappi had the boss’s ear, nonetheless, and counseled Gambino often (Gambino respected Zappi’s opinion very much.) Zappi had an eye for legitimate business which Gambino respected.

Down in South Florida

By the mid-1960s, Zappi bought a winter home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he started spending more time. He was given supervision at one point of Gambino members in South Florida, in addition to his NY crew.

He became a partner in the T & D Drive-In Movie in Miami. And as the 1970s approached, a fellow by the name of Bobby Rubino came to Zappi with an idea for a babyback rib restaurant.

The rest is history.

Bobby Rubino's Place for Ribs

Zappi became a silent partner in Bobby Rubino’s Ribs throughout the east coast. His grandson, Frank Galgano, was installed to operate several Bobby Rubino’s in Florida.

Zappi started spending more and more time in Florida, leaving the day-to-day operations to his trusted “acting Capo” Frank Dapolito. Dapolito had been installed as “business manager” of Local #854 while Tony Zappi became secretary/treasurer.

All through the 1960s to 1980s, both would work in tandem to maintain the cash cow that was #854 which was based in Valley Stream for many years.

Local # 854 was the Television, Radio, Instrument, Business Machines, and Furniture Manufacturers Drivers, Workers, Warehousemen, and Employees Union International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Independent),

An employee of this local, and friend of Anthony Zappi was the doomed John Favara, who of course, in later years, would run over and kill John Gotti’s young son Frankie.

Favara would be kidnapped after leaving work for the day at Castro Convertible (but that’s a story for another day.)

John Favara

By the 1980s, with the federal government's cleanup and purging of all mob elements from labor unions, Frank Dapolito and Anthony Zappi would resign their union posts before being officially kicked out by the feds.

Frankie Dap was hired by Joseph Curcio, a Family associate, and owner of several multi-million dollar bus companies in Brooklyn that held huge contracts with the city to bus school children.

Dapolito seemlessly moved into the very companies that his union local had represented making millions more for the Gambino Family in the process.

A Bygone Era

Ettore Zappi died in Florida by the early-mid 1980s, but his accomplishments lived on.

He had an arrest record by the early 1920s for assault and robbery, possession of a gun, felonious assault with a weapon, and liquor law violations. He was convicted once of prohibition law violation.

Zappi's activities included labor racketeering and large-scale shylocking. He was active for over 65 years, amassing great wealth and largely avoiding public exposure and jail.

He was also a confidante of several succeeding Family administrations. By all accounts, Zappi was a highly-respected and major player who kept a very low-key profile and violence to a minimum - from a bygone era!

A Trusted Protege

As though Ettore Zappi had not accomplished enough in his life for himself and the Gambino Family, one of his proteges was Robert (DB) DiBernardo.

In the late 1960s, DiBernardo entered the pornography rackets. This semi-legitimate business became a multi-million dollar windfall for the mob.

Robert DiBernardo

Zappi gave DiBernardo his blessing to expand and helped him with cross-country distribution, providing the Gambino Family clout and backing.

Zappi’s son, Anthony, was put in to supervise this operation for his father and Carlo, in addition to his union duties.

Anthony (Tony) Zappi actually was indicted in California in approximately 1970 or 1971 on pornography charges. He eventually beat the case. But it showed the involvement and profit potential in that Terry Zappi would involve his own son in this activity.

DiBernardo, of course, thrived for many years making millions for himself and the Gambinos. After Terry’s death, DiBernardo aligned himself directly with the administration, and Paul Castellano viewed him as a favorite.

With Gotti’s ascension to Boss, DiBernardo got caught up in Family politics and jealousy and was murdered by Sammy Gravano, who, of course, absorbed his rackets and businesses.

Again the saga goes on and on!

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Ettore Zappi – “De Facto Consigliere”

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Ettore Zappi – “De Facto Consigliere”

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You May Also Enjoy

Racketeer Snapshot: Connecticut’s Frank (The Cigar) Piccolo

The Anthony Strollo Regime of NY/NJ

The Day Charlie (the Bug) Workman Saved a Horse

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