The
Zippilli Family
Of
Camden, N.J.

This is another in a series of pages about families that lived and thrived in Camden. The Zippillis were a large family- at least 16 children in the generation born in the 1920s and 1930s- who through career or marriage were deeply embedded in the fabric of life in Camden. In August of 2008 I received a number of e-mails within a day of each other from members of the extended family regarding the South 4th Street and Line Street pages. Upon reflection, the creation of this page to tie the story together seemed the logical course to take.

Thanks to Gabriel Zippilli and Luci Zippilli MacPherson for their inspiration to start this page and assistance in assembling it, and to other members of the family who have chimed in via e-mail. This story is in many ways the story of the many Italian families who first pursued the American dream in Camden. 

Needless to say these pages are open to participation by the descendants of the families mentioned.... as stated above they are inspired by e-mails I've received from family members. If you see something in error or feel that something should be added, PLEASE contact me via e-mail so it can be added. Like everything else on this website, and in our lives, it's a work in progress. I welcome all comments, criticisms, and contributions..... pictures are more than welcome. Feel free to contact me by e-mail 

Phil Cohen, Camden NJ

The beginning of the story of the Zippilli family in Camden is somewhat shrouded, as all the records regarding their arrival in the USA and moves to Camden are not at hand. However, using what has been found through on-line sources and Camden City Directories, and with a good bit of help, one can proceed with confidence that a fairly accurate reading of the facts can be given.

Amedeo Zippilli arrived in the United States in 1910, according to Census records. His brother David and first cousin Domenico arrived in 1914, also according to Census records. 

Draft Cards for the three men indicate that by June of 1917 the two brothers had married women they had met in America, and had settled in Camden, New Jersey. Amedeo lived at 252 Pine Street, while his brother made his home at 220 Clinton Street. Their cousin Domenico had gone to Devon, Pennsylvania and had married Rosa DeAscentiis. 

The 1920 Census shows that Domenico and Rosa, who had come to the United States in 1903, were living in Trediffryn Township, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The young couple apparently had spent some time in Canada, as Rosa Zippilli gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Assunta, there in 1918. 

Regarding the two Zippilli brothers, the 1920 Census reveals that Amedeo and David Zippilli, their wives and children were all living in a home at 342 Line Street in South Camden. Both men worked in shipyards, Amedeo as a laborer, while David as a shipyard carpenter. Amedeo on Maria Zippilli then had four children- Domenick, Vincent, Rosie, and Felix. David and Jenny Zippilli then had one daughter, Anna- two more would follow, Rose and Marie.

The 1924 Camden City Directory shows that Amedeo Zippilli was still working as a laborer and living at 342 Pine Street. By 1927 he had gone into business, operating a grocery store at 821 South 4th Street, which he ran through the time the 1929 Camden City Directory was compiled. Shortly afterwards he sold the building and the business to his cousin Domenico, who had been living in Pennsylvania. 

When the Census was taken in April of 1930, Domenico and Rosa Zippilli were living at 821 South 4th Street with six of their children. Five more would follow. The Zippilli children and the year of their birth are as follows:

Gabriel Zippilli wrote in August of 2008, "My mother Rosa ran the store when my father would get jobs outside the store. My parents had twelve children that lived in that house at one time or another."

Domenico Zippilli operated the store on South 4th Street until his passing in 1951, Rosa joined him in 1979. It should be noted that the store, located on the southwest corner of South 4th and Division Streets, was literally at the heart of the Italian community in South Camden. On the southeast corner was Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, on the northwest corner, 819 South 4th Street, was "The White House", the funeral home and post office sub-station operated by Antonio Mecca. A candy store was located for many years on the northeast corner. 

Gabriel Zippilli wrote in 2008: At the northeast corner there was a candy store, it had a soda fountain with stools that spun around. The candy store was a favorite hang out for a number of
reasons. One reason it was popular was that it had a sidewalk cover that surrounded the entire building. We could hang out there even if it was rainy. The candy store was run by a man named Bill Ezzi and his wife Louisa, they had three daughters Nicole, Annette, and Ann Marie,  and one son Bill Jr.

David Zippilli had moved to 815 Dauphin Street by 1930, and moved to 823 Dauphin by the spring of 1942. He and his family moved to 420 Pine Street by 1947. Amedeo Zippilli moved to 1498 South 9th Street. He was working for Abbot's Dairies in the early 1940s. By 1947 he had gone into the bar business at 1819 Broadway with his son. Their bar was known, appropriately enough, as Zippilli's Cafe. They later were successful in that same line in Cherry Hill NJ. Amedeo Zippilli passed away in April of 1967, his wife in 1979 .

World War I Draft Card - Amedeo Zippilli

World War I Draft Card - David Zippilli

World War I Draft Card - Domenico Zippilli

1920 Census Sheets

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Late 1920s-1951
The Zippilli Family
1927-1929 Amedio & Mary Zippilli
1929-1955 Domenico & Rosa Zippilli
grocery store

Photograph taken July 10, 2004
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1930 Census Sheets

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YOUTH STABBED IN FACE DURING ROW ON STREET

Joseph Carbone, 18, of 336 Walnut street, was stabbed in the face by a Negro wielding a penknife at Ninth street and Kaighn avenue early yesterday. 

Carbone was walking with Vincent Zippilli, 1498 South Ninth street, when they met the man, he said. An argument started, he told police, and the man stabbed him and ran away. Carbone was treated at Cooper Hospital. He gave police a description of his assailant..

Camden Courier-Post
February 14, 1938

World War II Draft Card - Amedeo Zippilli - 1942

World War II Draft Card - David Zippilli - 1942

World War II Draft Card - Domenico Zippilli - 1942

Joseph S. Zippilli

1922

New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey

Technical Sergeant Joseph S. Zippilli

On October 18, 1943 Joseph S. Zippilli was assigned to the 766th Bomb Squadron, 461st Bomb Group, as a gunner and flight engineer, with the rank of Technical Sergeant. He was a member of the 461st Bomb Group's Crew 49. The Group began flying missions from a base in Italy in April of 1944. On the seventh mission, April 13, 1933, his plane, piloted by 2nd Lt. Paul S. Mowery, was damaged and the crew forced to bail out.

The mission was to bomb the Duna Tokol Aircraft Components Factory at Budapest, Hungary. On this mission a total of 58 enemy aircraft were seen.  Several encounters were experienced, three enemy planes were destroyed and three more claimed as probable.  Twin-engine enemy airplanes fired rockets at the formation.  Single engine enemy airplanes flew parallel with the Group at a safe distance and radioed headings, altitude, and air speed to their ground installations.  Flak over the target was intense, accurate, and heavy.  Two bombers were lost over the target.  1st Lt. Charles W. Bauman, flying the deputy lead position in “A” Flight of the second Section, had part of a wing shot off by flak.  His plane fell into the plane in the number 4 position of the same flight, which was piloted by 2nd Lt. Paul S. Mowery.  A third plane flown by 2nd Lt. Kay B. Steele, which had come off the target with the formation, failed to return to the base.  Colonel Glantzberg, who was flying as co-pilot in a plane in the second Section, led a small formation of planes in chasing attacking JU-88s away from this damaged plane.  He was unable, however, to stay with the plane because of an undercast.  Fifteen planes were damaged over this target.

Technical Sergeant Zippilli and eight others of his crew bailed out were captured. 

“I was assigned a B-24 bomber whose mission was to bomb an airplane manufacturing plant in Budapest, Hungry.  Then one of the planes in our formation got hit by anti aircraft fire, lost control of the plane and collided with us. So our officer in charge gave us the order to bail out of our aircraft. The nine of us were sent to Stalag Luft 3, a prison camp in Poland, where we stayed for nine months until the Russians came in. Then we were forced to march to Mousberg, Germany, to be transferred to Stalag 7A, where we were liberated April 29, 1945. In all, we were in captivity for one year and 16 days,” said Zippilli.  

The Second Generation

The Children of Amedeo & Marie Zippilli

The Zippilli Family - 1947 Camden City Directory
Spellings are as published in the Directory

The Zippilli Family - 1956 NJ Bell Telephone Directory
Spellings are as published in the Directory

The Zippilli Family - 1959 NJ Bell Telephone Directory
Spellings are as published in the Directory

The Third Generation

The Zippilli Family - 1970 NJ Bell Telephone Directory
Spellings are as published in the Directory

The Zippilli Family - 1977 NJ Bell Telephone Directory
Spellings are as published in the Directory

Fort Dix, New Jersey - May 10, 2002

Camden Courier-Post - October 26, 2000

ZIPPILLI
October 25, 2000 Vincent A., Sr. of Laurel Springs, formerly of Camden. Age 84. Devoted husband of Marie A. (nee Leon). Loving father of Vincent A., Jr. of Williamstown, John of Pomona and Thomas A. of Laurel Springs. Dear grandfather of 11 and great-grandfather of 3. There will be a viewing from 10 to 11am Friday at St. Agnes RC Church, Coles and Little Gloucester Rds., Blackwood. Funeral Mass 11am at church. Interment New St. Mary's Mausoleum, Bellmawr. Arrangements GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE AND BELLMAWR. 

Camden Courier-Post - May 22, 2002

ZIPPILLI, MARIE A.
(nee Leon) on May 20, 2002 of Laurel Springs. Age 83.
Beloved wife of Vincent A., Sr. Loving mother of Vincent A., Jr. of Williamstown, John of Pomona and Thomas A. of Laurel Springs. Dear sister of Teresa Straiges and Helen Merola. Proud grandmother of 11 and great grandmother of 5.
Family and friends are invited to attend her viewing Thursday morning from 10am to 10:45am at St. Agnes RC Church, 701 Gloucester and Little Coles Road, Blackwood. Funeral Mass 11am, Thursday at the church. Entombment New St. Mary's Mausoleum, Bellmawr.

Camden Courier-Post - July 1, 2001

ZIPPILLI, IRENE B.
(nee Lauria) on July 15, 2001 of Waterford, formerly of Runnemede. Age 77. Beloved wife of the late Dominic L. Loving mother of Diana B. Querubin and husband Michael and the late Dominic A. Sister of Anne Zito and Florence Terregino. Proud grandmother of Michele, Nicole and Dena Blizzard and her husband James. Great grandmother of Dean Michael and Natalia. There will be a viewing from 9 to 10:45 am Thursday morning at Assumption Church, 318 Carl Hasselhan Dr., Atco. Funeral mass 11 am. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill. Donations may be made in Irene's name to the American Cancer Society, 410 White Horse Pike, PO Box 159, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035. Funeral arrangements under the direction of GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE & BELLMAWR.

Camden Courier-Post - July 1, 2004

ZIPPILLI, SISTER ANNA, MPF
Of Morristown, NJ, on Tuesday June 29, 2004.
Sister of Mrs. Mary Moore and Rose Zippilli. Aunt of three nieces and one nephew.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 2, 10:30 AM, at St. Lucy Chapel, Villa Walsh, Morristown, NJ. Interment Villa Walsh Cemetery.
Hours of Visitation at Villa Walsh, Thursday, 3-8 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Religious Teachers Filippini, St. Joseph's Hall Infirmary Building Fund, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960.
Arrangements by DOYLE FUNERAL HOME, INC., Morristown, NJ.

Camden Courier-Post - July 14, 2005

ZIPPILLI, ROSE RITA
Born April 7, 1921, died July 11, 2005, Rose lived her life in Camden, NJ.
Prior to her retirement Rose was employed by the City of Camden as a Librarian for thirty eight years.
She is survived by her sister Mary Moore, her nieces JoAnn Santoro (Stephen), Ellen Moore, Maria Moore and her nephew Joseph Moore (Debra), also many grand nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by a sister Anna Zippilli.
Rose lived her life devoted to her family.
Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. A Mass of Celebration of Rose's life will be held Saturday, July 16, 2005 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Broadway and Markets Sts., Camden, NJ. Arrangements by the EICHEL FUNERAL HOME.