Former New England mafia capo Frank “Bobo” Marrapese Jr. has passed away at Rhode Island Hospital while serving a nine-year sentence on murder, racketeering, and extortion charges.
The 74-year-old mobster was busted back in 2011 with other Patriarca crime family members who were allegedly running a large-scale sports gambling operation. He had just been released from on parole from prison in 2008 after being convicted of murdering mafia associate Richard “Dickie” Callei in 1987. Marrapese became a vicious enforcer for the Patriarca family in the 1960s and 70s under former boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca. He was sent to the hospital not long after being denied parole although the cause of death is still unknown.
“Frank Marrapese Jr.”
Marrapese was said to be one of the most feared Cosa Nostra figures during his heyday and remained highly respected even though his influence in the crime family weakened. His reputation in organized crime gained him employment at the Gallery nightclub in Providence in the 1980s because the club was having problems with other criminal elements. The owner figured Marrapese’s presence would help to keep other alleged gangsters out of the club and help to keep the peace. Frank was also known by some of those he worked with as a gentleman although those in law enforcement who fought to stop him had a somewhat different opinion of the former wiseguy.
He was one of the last remaining links to a bygone era of the New England mafia that began to crumble as authorities attacked the La Cosa Nostra family ending with the death of Raymond in 1984 along with the deaths of other longtime associates. According to authorities, Frank remained a respected member of the family although he had minimal influence on the decision making process over the last few years. The mafia in New England has a new hierarchy in place believed to include acting boss Carmen (The Cheeseman) Dinunzio, underboss Matthew Guglielmetti Jr., and consigliere Joseph (Joe the Bishop) Achille.
Hardly any old timers left around the New England mafia now a days. Frank def had a violent filled mafia career and even though he seemed to mellow out some in his older years was probably just as violent when he needed to be.
May. He rest in peace.I judge no one…Yes old timers scarce…My Father met Raymond Patriarch SR back in 1960s ….Glory days of Federal Hill wiseguys…Billy Wild Guy.grasso was a neighbor of ours in New Haven Connecticut…Underboss or street boss for patriarch Jr. So agreed old timers gone but New England. Mob not dead yet Dinnuzio brothers and Matty G…and some 35 -40 guys still active…
Definitely not although it seemed rough for a while they seem to be back and at least somewhat reorganized. If the current hierarchy can stay on the streets for an extended period of time the family could rebound some at least to an extent as those guys are quite capable from what we know.
Frank was stand up guy until the end. He never whined or complained about doing his time. He never ratted on anyone. I went into his families Acorn Club on Federal Hill many times. This place was one of the last of its kind on Federal Hill. Draft beer $1 wine $2. His family provided free pizza to anyone who came in during the terrible blizzard of 1978 that shut down the city of Providence for several days. In later years before he passed away Franks father (Frank Sr.) would finish his shift as bartender and go across the street to Caserta’s Pizza and come back with free pizza and sandwiches for anyone in the club. I never experienced any problems in the club and as long as you acted like a gentleman all were welcome and treated with respect.
Now your memories are spot on ….that’s the honorable way I remember miss and loved so much back in 1960s -1970s..thanks for sharing this
Your welcome! Happy Holidays!
Great stuff Richard! Thanks for the post I think many would be surprised how more than a few of these guys are well regular guys when outside of business circles. And you never really get a decent idea of how normal and respectful some of them are from these articles and the feds etc but as you mentioned it usually a show respect and get it kind of thing much like with guy who work most any other job.