Introduction
Top: Lucy and Louis Di Renzo. Bottom: Joseph Di Renzo and Rose Di Renzo Di Frank.
Louis DiRenzo was born Luigi DiRenzo in Landisville, New Jersey on October 15, 1901 to Rose and Giuseppi (Joseph) DiRenzo. His father had come to America from Italy in 1892. Louis was the third and youngest child, his sister Susie was born on February 5, 1897, brother Mike arrived on September 14, 1899. The family moved to Camden shortly after Louis was born, moving to Camden’s Third Ward, where his father found work as a laborer.
The DiRenzos lived at 136 Mickle when the 1902 City Directory was compiled. They moved to 211 Mickle Street, where they are listed in 1903 and 1904. They appear in the 1911 and 1912 directories at 333 Mickle Street, and at 325 Stevens Street in 1920. Sadly, Joseph DiRenzo died on December 25, 1921.
By 1923 the family had moved to 208 Mickle Street. In 1925 Louis DiRenzo married Pasqualina “Lucy” Bottino. 1926 would see Louis DiRenzo’s mother Rose dying on January 8, and a daughter, named Rose arriving on September 9. The family was still living at 208 Mickle when the 1928 City Directory was compiled. A son, Joseph DiRenzo, was born on May 16, 1928. Louis DiRenzo and his young family moved to 419 in time for the 1929 City Directory. The next directory, published in 1931, shows that the family had moved to 1038 South 4th Street. They would move to 637 South 4th Street within a couple of years.
Louis DiRenzo had found work at the Camden Coke plant, which supplied fuel to homes, businesses and industries in Camden. He was also a pretty good athlete, excelling at baseball. Camden Coke, which also was known for a time as Otto Coke, sponsored a ball team in Camden’s Industrial League. Louis DiRenzo played shortstop and batted fifth in 1933. In 1934 he played second base and batted eighth. He had also taken an interest in politics, as a Democrat.
Louis DiRenzo was elected president of the Third Ward Democratic Club in 1936, and would be re-elected in 1941 and 1946. He was named as a registrar for the Draft Board in October of 1941. In 1942 Louis DiRenzo served as a member of Camden’s Board of Education.
The 1943 City Directory states that Louis DiRenzo was working as a driver for Camden Coke. By 1944 he had taken a job as maintenance foreman with Camden’s Board of Education. By 1952 he had moved over to Camden’s Highway Department, where he worked as a laborer as late as 1959. The DiRenzos were still living at 637 South 4th Street as late as 1959. At some point in the 1960s they moved to 3126 Waldorf Avenue in East Camden, not far from his wife Lucy’s brother, Louis Bottino.
Louis DiRenzo passed away on September 9, 1968. He was survived by his wife, son and daughter, and seven grandchildren. Lucy DiRenzo joined him on April 5, 1979. One of his grandchildren, also named Louis DiRenzo, served for 27 years with the Camden Police Department.
Louis DiRenzo’s sister was married to Mauro DiFrank, who owned Dee’s Fuel Service, which supplied fuel oil to homes and businesses in and around Camden.
Louis DiRenzo’s cousin, Joseph DiRenzo, served on Camden’s City Council in the 1970s.
7 G.O.P. Members 2 Democrats Quit Committee Races
Camden Courier-Post —
No Shifts in Candidates Made as Withdrawal Deadline Passes
3 PETITIONS REJECTED
Passing of the deadline for withdrawals of primary petitions at 4 p. m. yesterday showed seven Republicans and two Democrats quitting the race for election on the Camden county Republican and Democratic county committees. In addition three Republicans were removed as candidates by City Clerk Otto E. Braun.
No changes were made by the Republican or Democratic organization leaders in the candidates for the county tickets, despite reports up to the last minute that substitutions would be made.
The candidates withdrawing follow:
Republicans
Glenwood F. Watson, “Regular Republican, First ward.
Bronislaw Derowski, Jr., “Regular Republican Repeal Sales Tax,” Seventh ward.
Joseph Witek, “Regular Republican,” Seventh ward.
Robert J. Gartland, “Independent Republican,” Eighth ward.
William J. Rose, “Republican Against Sales Tax,” Tenth ward.
Thomas W. Anderson, “Independent Republican,” Eleventh ward.
Joseph Munger, “Republican Against Sales Tax,” Eleventh ward.
Democrats
Louis Di Renzo, “Always Regular Democrat,” Third ward.
Francis J. Hufner, “Regular Democrat,” Eleventh ward.
Woycicck Pyzik, “New Deal Democrat,” Thirteenth ward.
Those removed because of insufficient legal signatures:
Republicans
James H. Beal, Fifth ward.
Georgia R. Green, “Regular Republican—Repeal Sales Tax,” Fifth ward.
Helen Derowski, “Republican—Against Sales Tax,” Seventh ward.
City Clerk Braun allowed the petitions of Michael Russian and Mrs. Norah Falvey, Democrats, in the Eighth ward. John J. Hainesworth and Mrs. Catherine Corbett claimed 23 of the 45 names on their petition were illegal but Braun decided that only 20 names were illegal, leaving 25 legal names, sufficient for filing.
2 Candidates Withdraw
Two candidates for Republican Assembly nominations were shown to have withdrawn. They are J. Lewis Kollin and Clarence Wolf. The ticket sponsored by the organization headed by David Baird, Jr., remains as it was filed, as follows:
Albert E. Burling, for Senate; Edwin G. Scovel, J. Claud Simon and Henry M. Evans for Assembly; Joseph H. Van Meter for sheriff; Leslie H. Ewing for county clerk, and Joshua C. Haines for register of deeds. Clyde W. Briggs and Clarence Dunkleberger are running independently for Assembly.
The Democratic candidates running are those sponsored by the organization of Harry L. Maloney and Mrs. Emma E. Hyland. They are Francis G. Homan for Senate; Herbert E. Beattie, Anthony F. Marino and Leon H. Rose for Assembly; Albert S. Marvel, Jr., for sheriff; Victor J. Scharle, for county clerk, and William L. May for register of deeds. Albert Neutze is running independently for sheriff.
Candidates seeking to run in the general election have until September 12 to file.
Third Ward Democrats Endorse Candidates
Camden Courier-Post —
Members of the Third Ward Regular Democratic Club unanimously endorsed the candidates of the entire Democratic county ticket for the coming primary, County Committeeman Charles Salvaggio announced last night.
The club pledged its support to Charles Salvaggio and Mrs. Mamie Mungioli who seek re-election to the county committee, and to Albert Mungioli and Ferdano Scatasti for Justice of the Peace. Carmen Pitadallo was appointed campaign manager. Louis Di Renzo, president, presided.
World War II Draft Card
World War II Draft Registration Card for Louis DiRenzo.
City Votes $23,400 For Vets' Housing
Camden Courier-Post —
Veterans housing had top priority on the business of the city commission yesterday when Mayor Brunner tapped his gavel for the first meeting of the commissioners since their inauguration Tuesday.
The commission passed an emergency appropriation of $23,400 for additional work on plumbing, entrance walks, grading, seeding and fencing on veterans housing projects throughout the city. The money will be divided equally between the projects financed by federal and state aid.
A second emergency appropriation of $6800 was voted to purchase and install 18 mobile transmitting and receiving radio sets on police cars. The money appropriated also will cover the cost of three receivers and a main transmitting and receiving set for police headquarters.
The commissioners’ first official session of their new terms received a petition from 76 home owners in the vicinity of Thirty-first and Hayes avenue, protesting the erection of a prefabricated factory at that location. The contemplated manufacture of tanks, boilers and smoke stacks would constitute a nuisance, the householders protested.
The matter was referred to Commissioner Aaron for investigation.
The commission announced the reappointment of Vallery Francesconi as deputy commissioner of public affairs at an annual salary of $3000. The aide to Commissioner Aaron was sworn in by City Clerk Clay Reeseman.
Louis Direnzo, of 637 South Fourth street, was named constable for the Third ward.
Dropping 1200 Bucks for Christmas Cheer
Camden Courier-Post —
Completion of the Camden City volunteer organization which will distribute 1500 can containers to business houses throughout the city for the 1954 March of Dimes was announced today by City Commissioner Aaron, Camden County chairman.
With leaders in every ward in Camden City, as well as in all the municipalities of the county appointed, Aaron predicted the coming campaign, which begins next month, will surpass all records.
“Never has the need been greater than it is today, and never have the prospects been so heartening for combating the dread disease of Infantile paralysis” Aaron said.
“While this tremendously important work is going on, we must in care for those already stricken and those who will be stricken next year. More than 60 patients afflicted with polio this year, as well as past polio cases, have received treatment at the Camden Municipal Hospital, treatment made possible by past contributions to the March of Dimes. Your money has saved the lives of countless people; countless others need your help.”
The committee follows: First Ward, Joseph Davis; Second Ward, David Hagarty; Third Ward, Louis Di Renzo; Fourth Ward, John Odorisio; Fifth Ward, Mrs. Anna Anderson and Mrs. Lena Rago; Sixth Ward, John Salvatore; Seventh Ward, Mrs. Alfreda Hart; Eighth Ward, Anthony Bezich and Delaware Palmer; Ninth Ward, Oscar Moore; 10th Ward, Edward Kelley; 11th Ward, Mrs. Ella Mae Russell and Carroll Gooch; 12th Ward, Margaret Foley and Wayne McCormick; 13th Ward, Albert Becker and 14th Ward, John Emmel.
P. Donovan Cragin is executive secretary of Camden County Chapter, National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, sponsor of the March of Dimes.
DiRenzo
Camden Courier-Post —
On Sept. 9, 1968, Louis, beloved husband of Lucy (nee Bottino) of 3126 Waldorf Ave., Camden, N.J., age 66. Also surviving are a son, Joseph of Camden and a daughter, Mrs. Rose DiFrank of Cherry Hill, a sister, Mrs. Sue Coccia of Burlington, N.J., seven grandchildren. Relatives and friends of the family will meet on Thursday morning at 8 a.m., in the Bocco Funeral Home, 4th and Walnut Sts., Camden, N.J. Requiem high Mass 9:30 a.m. St. Joseph’s RC Church, Camden. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill. Friends may call Wednesday evening after 7.
The Chair
Left: The Chair at the DiRenzo home, ca. mid-1950s. Right: Louis DiRenzo and the Camden Police Department.
I still have an ornate wooden chair, rescued from being thrown out for trash at City Hall by my paternal grandfather in the 1940’s, he placed it inside his front door at 637 South 4th Street, and had anybody, including cops, coming to him for favors, money envelopes, etc. sit in the chair until any transactions were completed!
“The Chair.” I had it refurbished by a Camden cop, Dave Newberry, in the early 1980’s.
The chair is to the left in this photo, grandparents home about mid-1950’s. That’s me caught during a purse snatch.
Lou DiRenzo
January 2020