Sabba Verdiglione

1887-01-06 – 1970-07
Real estate and insurance broker; court interpreter

Sabba Verdiglione

Sabba Verdiglione
Sabba Verdiglione

Sabba Verdiglione was born January 6, 1887. He was active in the civic life of Camden from the 1920s onward. He and his wife, the former Marie V. Kelley, made his home at 940–942 South 5th Street, and this is also where he maintained his business. Involved in real estate and insurance, he was the founder of the first Italian Democratic Club in Camden County. He also served as the court interpreter in Camden.

Marie V. Kelley had already established herself as one of the first important female politicians in Camden when the couple wed. Sabba Verdiglione served as the Democratic County committeeman in 1930, and ran again in 1934 on a ticket aligned with Harry Maloney and Emma Hyland. Both he and his wife were active in the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus.

Marie Verdiglione passed away in 1953. One of Sabba Verdiglione’s employees, Anthony Gentile, was tragically killed in a car accident in August 1954.

Sometime after Gentile’s death, Sabba Verdiglione moved his offices to 432 Mickle Street, where it was located in 1959, and his home to 601 Maple Avenue, in Haddonfield NJ. He passed away in July of 1970.

Sabba and Marie Verdiglione’s daughter Marie graduated Camden Catholic High School Class of ’56. She then went on to earn a Liberal Arts degree at Rutgers University before opening the popular nightclub 23 Skidoo / Some Place Else with her then-husband Anthony “Skeets” Tortu. Marie V. Tortu passed on January 29, 2012.

Checked and Double-Checked, by Jiminy — Camden Courier-Post, February 19, 1938

Checked and Double-Checked column by Jiminy, Camden Courier-Post, February 19, 1938
Checked and Double-Checked, by Jiminy — Camden Courier-Post, February 19, 1938
View transcription
Checked and Double-Checked By JIMINY THE week's prize story, as it is being told around the courthouse, concerns the new "bingo" numbers racket in which a half dozen or more suspects were arrested. Prosecutor Orlando was questioning the prisoners when there came this repartee: PROSECUTOR: "What's the matter with you? Don't you read the papers? Didn't you read where we had banned bingo?" PRISONER: "Yeah, I read that—but I thought you meant churches!" * * * Alleviating the daily burden of digesting news comes an occasional missive like this: "Dear Sir: "I am writing you to request a part time job writing column consisting of notes obtained from bartenders and waiters who work in cafes or inns and who advertise in the Courier-Post. I am married, 28 years old, have one child and good reference. If interested, call —— or write. " B. R. McLaughlin." If there were such a job, it wouldn't be open. * * * THE plan of David Baird to throw Harry Ecky out of his job for Bill Lehman is a shining example of how the Camden county Republican party is disintegrating because one man refuses to substitute gas-electric buses for horsecars. . . . The appointment of Harry Ecky was one of the few creditible appointments the Gentleman Farmer has had a hand in for some years. . . . Ecky is not only a straight, efficient registrar; he is a credit to his party, a popular man in North Camden and, until this political assassination, has been a loyal Baird follower in the face of endless adverse criticism. . . . The fact that Baird hopes to dump one of his most loyal workers merely to make room for his headquarters errand boy, doesn't sit well with the uptown Republicans. . . . It is a good break for the New Deal Republicans, for such a flagrant case of double-cross brings sharply to the understanding of Old Guard Republicans why the New Deal Republicans seceded and struck out for themselves. . . . You can safely bet that regardless of whether Baird is successful in ousting Ecky, the First ward will henceforth be New Deal. . . . One of the surprising features of yesterday's recall election at Wildwood was the fact that William "Dutch" Kinsler was very active as a district leader. . . . For the Democrats. . . . "Dutch" was a guard at the Camden county jail for many years. . . . And was a vehement Bairdite. . . . Social Notes: Prosecutor Sam Orlando is Florida-bound. . . . Al Woodruff is back from the West Indies. . . . Mrs. Emma Hyland and Mrs. Marie (Kelley) Verdiglione visited Gov. Moore at Trenton on Wednesday. . . . In recent weeks we have been enjoying a joust with the editor (?) of a weakly paper and very probably he has been enjoying it too from behind the eight ball. . . Now, a political chameleon who issues a throw-away folder in the suburbs, is trying to muscle in to draw some comment from us. . . We can't joust there, being under a handicap, as we cleave to facts and truth. . . Whereas no such restriction hinders or worries the suburban pensman. . . That can be attested by the fact that the Camden County Grand Jury once preseented him with a diploma. . . In recognition of his expertness. . . At criminal libel. . . He pleaded non vult (guilty) to the indictment, throwing himself upon the mercy of the court. . . The grand jury's too busy these days with bingo and bagatelle. Out in one of the suburbs the ABC agents are investigating a councilman who is a bartender in one of the taprooms in his community, which they say is illegal, since the governing body of which he is a member is also the issuing authority for liquor licensees. . . The taproom recently was told to close on time. . . It must be Spring . . . Mrs. Roy Lehman, of Lucaston, writes in this year's first letter about having seen a robin. . . And some boys were playing marbles under the bridge around Third street the other day. Some more social notes: Corporal Sol Polkowitz, of the Malaga state police barracks, is on a 36-day leave in order to tour England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Czecho-Slovakia and Roumania. . . Is Chief John Branin about to leave Delaware township?. . . Mrs. Kathryn Sheeran's friends threw her a surprise birthday party the other night. . . Walter Fallon, who told us, wouldn't say what birthday. Charley Humes and Chinny Weber will battle it out for last place in the ping-pong league tonight. . . Mrs. Beatrice Di Guiseppe, of 425 Pine street, has a dracena plant which has just burst into rare bloom. . . She got it seven years ago from Pasquale Iannuzzi . . . One of the staff found an old photograph near Broadway and Federal, and it may have some sentimental value for the loser. . . On the back are some notations, among them this: "Don't you think Robert James some boy—don't you think you could love your little grandson". . . It is torn in half, though, and maybe that's a story in itself. . . Aside to Mrs. M. R. of Gloucester: Have you heard favorable word from the Westville authorities?

Named: David Baird Jr., Harry Ecky, William Lehman, Samuel P. Orlando, Albert S. Woodruff, Emma Hyland, Marie V. Kelley Verdiglione, Sol Polkowitz, William “Dutch” Kinsler, Charley Humes, Chinny Weber, Beatrice DiGiuseppe, Pasquale Ianuzzi, Pine Street, Mrs. Kathryn Sheeran, Walter Fallon, John Branin, and B.R. McLaughlin.

Advertisement

Tag: sabba-verdiglione

Newspaper article 'Mrs. Santone Named Library Trustee', Camden Courier-Post, December 31, 1953

Mrs. Santone Named Library Trustee

Mayor Brunner has appointed Mrs. Dollie Santone, 564 Pine st., a trustee of the City Board of the Free Library to fill the vacancy created by the death of Mrs. Marie K. Verdiglione.

Newspaper article 'U.S.O. Drive Here Reports $17,423', Camden Courier-Post, July 30, 1941

U.S.O. Drive Here Reports $17,423

The upward swing of contributions to the United Service Organizations continued yesterday, with Camden's total reaching $17,423.69 toward its $21,000 goal.

Newspaper column titled "Checked and Double-Checked" by Jiminy, printed in two columns of small type, Camden Courier-Post, February 19, 1938

Checked and Double-Checked

James M. O'Neill's "Checked and Double-Checked" column, signed JIMINY, in the Camden Courier-Post of February 19, 1938: a courthouse joke from the "bingo" numbers racket arrests, David Baird's plan to replace registrar Harry Ecky with Bill Lehman, and a run of social notes, including an old photograph found near Broadway and Federal Street.

Pre-Lenten Ball Planned by K. of C.

One of the principal pre-Lenten events in this city will be the Knights of Columbus Ball which is to be held in the Hotel Walt Whitman on Tuesday evening, February 22.

K. of C. Here Plans Washington Ball

Camden Council, Knights of Columbus, will hold a “George Washington Birthday Ball” February 22, at the Hotel Walt Whitman.

Politics - Elephant and Donkey - Stock Photo

Democrats Arrange for 'Maloney Day'

"Harry L. Maloney Day" will be celebrated by South Jersey Democrats, Sunday, July 9, when the newly-appointed collector of internal revenue will be guest of honor at a picnic at Silver Lake Park.

Moore Rallies Tonight in 3 Wards, Ashland

Rallies in the interest of A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and local candidates on the Democratic ticket will be conducted tonight in Ashland and in three wards of the city.

Politics - Elephant and Donkey - Stock Photo

7 Democrats Rallies in County Tonight

Democratic speakers, urging suffrage in the interest of A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and the local Democratic ticket, will invade seven political clubs in the city and county tonight.

Advertisement

Comments