Rocco Maria Piro was born on July 20, 1895 in Aprigliano, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy, the son of Carmine and Concetta (Vigna) Piro. He had three sisters, Nina, Analia, and Julia and two brothers, Louis and Gaetano Piro. He served in the Italian military for four years and eight months during World War I.
On November 15, 1920, Rocco arrived in New York City, after leaving the Port of Le Havre in France and sailing on the New Rochelle. By 1923, he settled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and worked as a machinist helper for the Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1925, he had moved to Niagara Falls, New York and worked as a blacksmith at Republic Carbon from 1925 to 1937 and Acheson Graphite from 1935 to 1937.
Rocco married Angeline Marazzo on October 1, 1933 at St. Anne's Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Lena Mitchell, Angeline's cousin, served as the maid of honor, and Leonard Apa was the best man. The couple visited Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City on their honeymoon, and lived in Niagara Falls, New York.
On November 11, 1937, he shot and killed his brother-in-law, Joseph Covelli. He was initially convicted of first-degree murder on January 19, 1938 and sentenced to be executed via electric chair at Sing Sing Prison. Instead, he was pardoned by New York Governor Herbert H. Lehman on February 7, 1939, who commuted to life imprisonment his death sentence. His lawyers successfully argued that Piro was suffering from illusions that Covelli was having improper relations with his wife and that Piro was insane.
After serving a lengthy prison term, he returned to life in Niagara Falls for several years, dying at Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston on September 26, 1983. He was survived by his wife and their two children, Carmen Piro and Mary Rose Thomas, and nine grandchildren.
On November 15, 1920, Rocco arrived in New York City, after leaving the Port of Le Havre in France and sailing on the New Rochelle. By 1923, he settled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and worked as a machinist helper for the Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1925, he had moved to Niagara Falls, New York and worked as a blacksmith at Republic Carbon from 1925 to 1937 and Acheson Graphite from 1935 to 1937.
Rocco married Angeline Marazzo on October 1, 1933 at St. Anne's Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Lena Mitchell, Angeline's cousin, served as the maid of honor, and Leonard Apa was the best man. The couple visited Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City on their honeymoon, and lived in Niagara Falls, New York.
On November 11, 1937, he shot and killed his brother-in-law, Joseph Covelli. He was initially convicted of first-degree murder on January 19, 1938 and sentenced to be executed via electric chair at Sing Sing Prison. Instead, he was pardoned by New York Governor Herbert H. Lehman on February 7, 1939, who commuted to life imprisonment his death sentence. His lawyers successfully argued that Piro was suffering from illusions that Covelli was having improper relations with his wife and that Piro was insane.
After serving a lengthy prison term, he returned to life in Niagara Falls for several years, dying at Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston on September 26, 1983. He was survived by his wife and their two children, Carmen Piro and Mary Rose Thomas, and nine grandchildren.
Rocco Maria Piro was born on July 20, 1895 in Aprigliano, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy, the son of Carmine and Concetta (Vigna) Piro. He had three sisters, Nina, Analia, and Julia and two brothers, Louis and Gaetano Piro. He served in the Italian military for four years and eight months during World War I.
On November 15, 1920, Rocco arrived in New York City, after leaving the Port of Le Havre in France and sailing on the New Rochelle. By 1923, he settled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and worked as a machinist helper for the Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1925, he had moved to Niagara Falls, New York and worked as a blacksmith at Republic Carbon from 1925 to 1937 and Acheson Graphite from 1935 to 1937.
Rocco married Angeline Marazzo on October 1, 1933 at St. Anne's Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Lena Mitchell, Angeline's cousin, served as the maid of honor, and Leonard Apa was the best man. The couple visited Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City on their honeymoon, and lived in Niagara Falls, New York.
On November 11, 1937, he shot and killed his brother-in-law, Joseph Covelli. He was initially convicted of first-degree murder on January 19, 1938 and sentenced to be executed via electric chair at Sing Sing Prison. Instead, he was pardoned by New York Governor Herbert H. Lehman on February 7, 1939, who commuted to life imprisonment his death sentence. His lawyers successfully argued that Piro was suffering from illusions that Covelli was having improper relations with his wife and that Piro was insane.
After serving a lengthy prison term, he returned to life in Niagara Falls for several years, dying at Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston on September 26, 1983. He was survived by his wife and their two children, Carmen Piro and Mary Rose Thomas, and nine grandchildren.
On November 15, 1920, Rocco arrived in New York City, after leaving the Port of Le Havre in France and sailing on the New Rochelle. By 1923, he settled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and worked as a machinist helper for the Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1925, he had moved to Niagara Falls, New York and worked as a blacksmith at Republic Carbon from 1925 to 1937 and Acheson Graphite from 1935 to 1937.
Rocco married Angeline Marazzo on October 1, 1933 at St. Anne's Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Lena Mitchell, Angeline's cousin, served as the maid of honor, and Leonard Apa was the best man. The couple visited Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City on their honeymoon, and lived in Niagara Falls, New York.
On November 11, 1937, he shot and killed his brother-in-law, Joseph Covelli. He was initially convicted of first-degree murder on January 19, 1938 and sentenced to be executed via electric chair at Sing Sing Prison. Instead, he was pardoned by New York Governor Herbert H. Lehman on February 7, 1939, who commuted to life imprisonment his death sentence. His lawyers successfully argued that Piro was suffering from illusions that Covelli was having improper relations with his wife and that Piro was insane.
After serving a lengthy prison term, he returned to life in Niagara Falls for several years, dying at Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston on September 26, 1983. He was survived by his wife and their two children, Carmen Piro and Mary Rose Thomas, and nine grandchildren.
Inscription
Gravestone gives incorrect birth date, as birth record confirms July 20, 1895 date.
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