Charles Raffa (c. 1904 - 1988) was an Italian emigrant to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

who became a successful businessman. He was the father of

Matilda Cuomo Matilda Cuomo (born Mattia Raffa on September 16, 1931) is an American advocate for women and children, former First Lady of New York from 1983 to 1994, and matriarch of the Cuomo family. She is the widow of Governor of New York Mario Cuomo an ...

, and the maternal grandfather of

Andrew Cuomo Andrew Mark Cuomo ( , ; born December 6, 1957) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 56th governor of New York from 2011 until his resignation in 2021. A member of the Democratic Party and son of former governor Mario Cuomo, ...

Personal life

Raffa was born circa 1904 and emigrated to the United States from

Messina Messina ( , ; ; ; ) is a harbour city and the capital city, capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of 216,918 inhabitants ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

in 1927. He was married to Mary Gitto, and had five children, Frank, Matilda, Sam, Joseph and Nancy. He maintained homes in East Flatbush, New York and

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

Career

He worked as a laborer when he first immigrated from Italy. Later, he founded his own business, which became highly successful building supermarket shelves and refrigeration units. He used the proceeds from this company to invest in real estate, buying up dozens of residential and commercial properties in New York.

Death

In 1984, Raffa was assaulted in an abandoned grocery store he owned. He was badly beaten and later received plastic surgery. Despite medical intervention, he never fully recovered and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. He succumbed to his illness at the Jewish Center for Geriatric Care in Long Island in 1988. Following his death, his descendants feuded over who should receive shares of his estate, valued at between $5 million and $13 million.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raffa, Charles 1900s births Year of birth uncertain 1988 deaths Italian emigrants to the United States People from Messina