Early Life
Nicky Scarfo, Jr. was born to Nicodemo and Domenica Scarfo. He has an older half-brother, Chris (born in 1957), and a younger brother, Mark (born in 1970). Nicky is the cousin of Phil Leonetti, an admitted former underboss of the Philadelphia crime family.
Nicky Scarfo, Sr. was allegedly banished from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, New Jersey, before Nicky Jr.'s birth. The elder Scarfo had allegedly killed a man in a brawl unrelated to mob business. Then-boss Angelo "Gentle Don" Bruno is said to have exiled him to Atlantic City, which at the time was a dying family beach resort town. Nicky Scarfo, Jr. grew up on North Georgia Avenue in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City. His grandmother, Catherine Scarfo, owned the building and lived there. Phil Leonetti also lived in the building, and later roomed with the Scarfos. Despite his father's position within the Philadelphia mob, the Scarfos were not wealthy while Nicky was growing up.
Nicky graduated from Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey, in 1983. Gambling was legalized in Atlantic City in 1976, and Nicodemo Scarfo, Sr. allegedly became deeply involved in organized crime's infiltration of the casino industry. Among the elder Scarfo's closest associates was Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino. Scarfo Sr.'s rule over organized crime in Atlantic City has been characterized as one of the most violent and murderous in American history. While Nicky was in high school, his father was brought back to Philadelphia by the mob. In 1980, Scarfo Sr. was named the Philadelphia outfit's consigliere, and in 1981 he was named boss. Only then did the Scarfos begin to live a more lavish lifestyle. By one account, Nicky Scarfo, Jr. was not involved in crime during his teens, and did not intend to become involved in the syndicate. As one classmate noted, "When I knew him, he was a good guy. He was just a regular guy. Everyone knew who his father was, but we never talked about that."
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