Anthony Sinatra (born Saverio Antonino Martino Sinatra; May 4, 1892 - January 24, 1969) is the father of Frank Sinatra. He was also known as Anthony Martin and Marty.
Biography[]
Marty spent the first nine years of his life in his native Scilly. In 1902 he immigrated to America, where his father and two brothers lived. He dropped out of school soon afterward and struggled with all aspects of the English language - speaking, reading and writing.
Like his father, Marty started as an apprentice shoemaker at a local cobbler's, and had many jobs throughout his early life, including a chauffeur. Marty had a run-in with the law involving a fatal hit-and-run on Newark Street involving a five-year-old. He was tried for manslaughter, but was acquitted because he had been "unnerved" and "had lost his head". He was also caught receiving stolen goods.
Under the alias of Marty O'Brien, he fought professionally in bantamweight boxing. He chose O'Brien as it was the name of his Philadelphia sponsor, and it was more appealing to the Irish audience. It is believed that Marty met his wife, Dolly Garaventa, through fellow boxer Dominick "Champ" Garaventa. Dolly was an immigrant from Rossi, Italy and one of Dominick's eight siblings. [1] Marty also had jobs in some early films and worked as a boilermaker at the shipyard.[2]
He met Dolly when she was 16, two years his younger, in 1912. They ran away together and got married at the Jersey City city hall on Valentine's Day the next year after Dolly's parents refused to host the wedding. They returned home, where they made up with their families and got remarried in a church.[1][2]
Together Dolly and Marty rented out an apartment at 415 Monroe Street. His brother Salvatore, moved into the apartment across the hall with his wife.[1]
Marty was too old to join the army in World War I. He still worked as a prize-fighter, as well as working in the docks and he ran a bar. He also managed to get a job at Hoboken Fire Department. [2]
A saloon owner owed Marty money, and after a long time tried to pay it with a dying horse. That night, he took the horse back to the saloon and shot it in the doorway. The horse was stuck in the doorway, meaning the saloon had to be closed for a while. [2]
Appearance[]
Marty was a small person with a prematurely receding hairline. He had many tattoos and suffered from chronic asthma. Marty was said to have a gentle character yet a big temper, and often drank.