William M. Denof Sr.
WILLIAM M. DENOF SR. was born in New Jersey of Italian parents around 1892. By the time the census was taken in 1920 he had established an undertaking business. He was then living with his wife Helen, brothers Charles and Lewis, and sons Albert and William Jr., at 513 Spruce Street.
By 1930 William Denof and family moved to the corner of 5th and Spruce Street. He converted the building at 840 South 5th Street for use as a funeral home, and he remained there into the 1960s. In the mid-1930s he was involved in politics. A Democrat, he ran for City Commission in 1931, and he was allied with Edward J. Kelleher in a struggle to wrest control of the party from Emma Hyland and Harry Maloney. His brother Charles was also politically active. Charles F. Denof would live with his brother and family until at least 1947.
The Denof family included wife Helen, daughter Doris, and sons Albert, Charles, and William Jr. William Denof Jr. was well known in Camden as a ball-player, playing for teams such as Rox Gimello’s Camden Collegians, and appearing in many box scores throughout the 1930s and early 1940s.
William M. Denof Sr. — 1947
William M. Denof Sr. — 1947
Joe Montana Wed to Miss Palladino
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Wrestler and Bride Are Given Dinner Attended by Notables
Miss Emma Palladino, one of the fairest daughters of Camden’s “Little Italy” yesterday became the bride of Joseph Montana, heavyweight wrestler, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Fourth and Division streets.
Idol of Italian youth in this city, Montana was hailed by hundreds of them outside the church. A number of relatives and friends, including prominent figures in the legal and professional life of the city, attended a dinner in honor of the couple at Overbrook Villa, Lindenwold, following the ceremony.
The bride, 20, is the daughter of Joseph Palladino, commercial photographer of 1115 South Fourth street. She graduated from Camden High school in 1928. Montana is 26 and a contender for the world’s heavy-weight wrestling diadem. Following a wedding tour through the West the couple plan to reside in Camden.
Miss Emenia D’Alesio, of Audubon, and Miss Rose Marini and Miss Cecelia Szymanski, of Camden, served as bridesmaids. Attending the groom were Gene Mariano, Michel D’Ilesia and William Palladino. The bride carried a bouquet of lillies of the valley and white roses while her attendants held tulips and roses. The church was beautifully decorated with varied floral designs, gold ribbons, silks and satins.
The guest list at the bridal dinner included: Assemblyman Frank M. Travaline, Jr., City Commissioner Clay W. Reesman, director of parks and public property; Acting Chief of Police of John W. Golden, former Prosecutor and Mrs. Ethan P. Wescott, Samuel P. Orlando, Guido Laurini, Detective Fiore Troncone, Antonio Mecca, Mr. and Mrs. William Denof, Mr. and Mrs. Pasquale Ianuzzi, Frank H. Ryan, Thomas H. Ryan, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Principato, Mr. and Mrs. William AveraIl, Luke McKenna, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Mariani, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Abbott, Frank P. Cocchiaraley and Miss Regina Cocchiaraley, all of Camden; Miss Mary Montana, and Mr. and Mrs. Ettore Montana, of Columbus OH., and Aristadino D’Guilia and sons, Albert and Peter, of Buffalo, NY.
Denof Denies He Ran in ’31 for Kelleher
Camden Courier-Post —
Was First to File, He Says, and Stayed on Ticket by Own Choosing
William Denof, last night denied the statements attributed to Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando and Attilio C. Marino, that Edward J. Kelleher was responsible for having Denof file a petition as a candidate for city commissioner in 1931. Denof’s statement follows:
“In 1931 I was the first person to file my petition as a candidate for city commissioner. My petition was filed after a number of influential Italians in Camden county had held conferences to discuss the fact that the Hyland-Maloney leadership of the party was not giving any recognition to those of Italian extraction. Those attending the conferences finally selected me as their representative and asked me to announce my candidacy for city commissioner.
“I had hopes of obtaining the support of the Democrats and Non-Partisans and used the designation ‘Non-Partisan’ on the ballot.
“Edward J. Kelleher was in Florida at the time. I had never had any conversations with him about the matter until he returned. After the Hyland-Maloney leadership had definitely determined to support five candidates other than myself, both Mr. Kelleher and Judge Shay asked me to retire as a candidate, in the interest of harmony in the Democratic party.
“I had intended to retire and was perfectly willing to do so, but in the face of my candidacy, Mrs. Hyland and Mr. Maloney had removed my brother and two of our friends from the election board and placed inexperienced persons in their stead.
“I informed Mr. Kelleher and Judge Shay that I would be perfectly willing to retire from the race, if these three Democrats, who had served the party from the time they became of age, were restored to their positions on the election boards.
“Mrs. Hyland and Mr. Maloney refused to reinstate them. Believing that they were not interested in winning the city election but were more interested in winning the primary election for themselves which was to occur one week later, I decided to let my name remain on the ballot as a candidate.
“Former Mayor Victor King and Fred Stanton had bolted the Non-Partisan ticket in 1927 and ran as independent candidates. They are now holding lucrative positions under the Hyland-Maloney leadership.
“My purpose in making this statement is to give the exact truth and to give credit to Mr. Kelleher and Judge Shay for endeavoring to have me retire as a candidate. Mr. Kelleher was not responsible for my being a candidate and made every effort to have me retire in favor of the candidates named by Mrs. Emma E. Hyland and Harry Maloney.
“Prosecutor Orlando’s statement is certainly out of line with the true facts in the situation.”
Mrs. Hyland Raps Answer by Denof
Camden Courier-Post —
Personal Vengeance Dominated His Motives, Committeewoman Charges
“Upon his own statement William Denof convicts himself of the charge that by refusing to withdraw his city commission candidacy in 1931, he placed personal vengeance above civic interest and purposely sacrificed Democratic chances of winning the city government that year.”
This was the answer yesterday by Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, Democratic state committeewoman, to a denial by Denof that Kelleher inspired his candidacy, as charged, to wreck Non-Partisan chances of 1931 victory.
“Denof is seeking to drag a red herring across his trail when he states that Kelleher did not prompt his candidacy,” Mrs. Hyland said. “His statement that he became a candidate because Italians were not being given recognition by the party, is pure bosh. The Democrats had no jobs to give anyone at that time, so the question of racial recognition is a smokescreen.
Interest of Harmony
“Vincent Canzonese has publicly stated that he and Frederick Schorpp, and others sent money to Florida to bring Kelleher back for the single purpose of defeating the Non-Partisan movement. He states that Kelleher asked him to retire as a candidate in the interest of harmony, and that he was willing if Harry L. Maloney and myself would restore his brother and two other friends to election board jobs from which they had been removed.
“These men were removed for good and ample reasons best known to myself, for their work on the boards was not satisfactory for several years past. His candidacy had nothing whatever to do with their removal. Denof never came to me nor Mr. Maloney with a request that he would withdraw for reinstatement of the three election board officers, nor upon any other matter. He does declare in his statement ‘I informed Mr. Kelleher I’d be perfectly willing to retire from the race...if these three Democrats were restored.’
“Kelleher never came to me nor Mr. Maloney with such a message, and this fact is concrete proof in itself that Kelleher then purposely held back the message in order to keep Denof on the ballot and damage Democratic opportunity for victory. It also strongly indicates that only Kelleher could have been behind the Denof candidacy.
Acting as Bodyguard
“Mr. Maloney vainly attempted to interview Denof several times in hopes of having him withdraw, but Canzonese was acting as a bodyguard at all times so that Denof could not be interviewed.
“Finally, C. Lawrence Gregorio, then assistant prosecutor, had obtained Denof’s promise to withdraw and one night before election Denof was to meet Gregorio and a reporter at Non-Partisan headquarters and issue a statement announcing withdrawal of his candidacy.
“But on the appointed night, although Gregorio and the reporter waited for hours, Denof did not appear. Frederick Schorpp later admitted to several persons that he had Denof in a Pennsauken pool room until 2 o’clock the next morning so that he could not be reached and asked to live up to his promise of withdrawal. Schorpp is now supporting Kelleher as he always has.
“These are the facts and in view of them it can be seen by the least intelligent that upon his own statement Denof convicts himself of the charge that refusing to withdraw he placed personal vengeance above civic interest and purposely sacrificed Democratic chances of winning the city government that year.
“For the treachery of that year Democratic voters should now mete out punishment and with finality reject Kelleher and his adherents and push on to a greater, better party with the present leadership which has been so successful—a success demonstrated by the fact that the last Republican majority in the county was only 2500 votes as compared to 40,000 three years ago, the three years beginning Harry Maloney’s term as state committeeman.”
Sideline Slants
Camden Courier-Post —
JOE CREAN, Bud Sheehan, Sam Godfrey and Worm Wearshing all play in the Delaware River Basketball League … Joe Barry considers Walt Roman, a little chip, one of the best performers on his Catholic High quintet, and the coach recently had the diminutive guard showing the others on the varsity a few tricks … Haddon Heights High goes in for gymnastics in a big way and the school has all types of equipment … Norman Ford is the member of the faculty who teaches that sport … Joe Shields, former Camden High and Springfield College star, is attending Jefferson Medical College, .. Newt Danford, ex-Camden athlete, teaches at Westmont Junior High, and Ted Nitka, the Fordham Flash, is a faculty member at his alma mater, also Camden High … The senior William Denof is a swell bowler and the missus is a swell hostess … Johnny Vogeding and Jack Bitting, popular Woodbury athletes, are employed at the Mannington Mills plant in Salem … Frank Duffy is active in athletics at the RCA here.
Zuni Installs 1951 Officers
Camden Courier-Post —
The Zuni Athletic Association recently installed their officers for 1951, with Frank A. DiRenzo presiding.
Other officers installed were Peter A. Barbalace, vice president; Anthony A. Darpino, secretary-treasurer; Joseph Palerrao, financial treasurer, and Angelo Levecchia, sergeant-at-arms.
Founders of the organization were Peter Barbalace, Pat Barbalace, Albert Aceto, John LaPlaca and Jack O’Neil. Gene R. Mariano, former prosecutor, is honorary president.
The honorary membership includes Rev. Michael Argullo, Commissioner Frank A. Abbott, Mariano, Judge John R. DiMona, Joseph P. DeLuca, Anthony F. Marino, Angelo A. DePersia, Dr. Lawrence Palese, Mike and Joe Greenetz, William Denof Sr., Louis Bantivoglio, John Bantivoglio, Pat DiSimone, Samuel E. Fulton, Joseph Macciocca, Leonard Garaguso, Joseph Wood and Al Seri.