Anthony Martin Sinatra (May 4, 1892 – January 24, 1969), born Antonino Martino Sinatra, was a Hoboken city fireman, professional boxer, bar owner, and father of singer and actor Frank Sinatra.
On December 21, 1903, he immigrated to New York City from Palermo, Sicily, on the SS Città di Milano with his mother Rosa Sagliabeni Sinatra and his sisters Angela and Dorotea. His father Francesco, born in Lercara Friddi, Palermo, Sicily, Italy Comune di Lercara Friddi, Palermo, Sicily, Italy was already in the city working in a pencil factory earning eleven dollars a week, and his mother went on to own and operate a small grocery shop. Sinatra himself apprenticed as a shoemaker, until he started prize-fighting, calling himself Marty O'Brien, because Italians were not welcome in the fight game.
On February 14, 1914, Sinatra eloped with Natalie Garaventa (also known as "Dolly"), to Jersey City, New Jersey, as Dolly's parents refused to host a wedding and did not approve of Marty, as he was illiterate, inferior at boxing, and was a Sicilian, whereas the Garaventa family were Northern Italian (Genoese).
The couple eventually moved to 415 Monroe Street, Hoboken, New Jersey. Their only child, Francis Albert Sinatra, was born on December 12, 1915.
Sinatra continued his boxing career, until he broke his wrists after 30 professional fights. He then attempted to find marine work, but was rejected due to asthma. Dolly helped him find work as a firefighter, and he was eventually appointed to the Hoboken Fire Service in 1927, where he attained the rank of Captain without having to take any formal exams.
While still a captain in the fire brigade, Sinatra and his wife opened a tavern, called Marty O'Brien's. With sufficient income, the family of three moved to a three-bedroom apartment, only a few blocks away from Monroe Street, but well out of Little Italy, at 705 Park Avenue.
Sinatra suffered a heart attack in 1969 and his son was present when he died.
In the 1992 CBS miniseries Sinatra (a series about the life of his son Frank), he was portrayed by Joe Santos.
Famous quotes containing the words anthony, martin and/or sinatra:
“This is rather different from the receptions I used to get fifty years ago. They threw things at me then—but they were not roses.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)
“You know, we always called each other “goodfellas,” like you’d say to somebody “you’re gonna like this guy, he’s all right, he’s a goodfella, he’s one of us.” You understand, we were goodfellas, wiseguys.”
—Nicholas Pileggi, U.S. screenwriter, and Martin Scorsese. Henry Hill (Ray Liotta)
“And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain,
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain.
I’ve lived a life that’s full, I traveled each and ev’ry highway,
And more, much more than this. I did it my way.”
—Frank Sinatra (b. 1915)