Mario Merola (February 1, 1922 – October 27, 1987) was a New York City Councilman from 1964 to 1971 and the District Attorney of Bronx County, New York, from 1972 to 1987.
Mario Merola | |
|---|---|
 Mario Merola in an NBC interview | |
| Bronx County District Attorney | |
| In office January 1, 1972 – October 27, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Burton B. Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Paul T. Gentile |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 1, 1922 Woodlawn Heights, The Bronx, New York City |
| Died | October 27, 1987 (aged 65) The Bronx, New York City |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse |
Tullia Palermo (m. 1949) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | New York University |
Early life
editMerola was born on February 1, 1922, to Italian immigrants in the Woodlawn Heights neighborhood of the Bronx.[1][2] His father was a barber, while his mother was a garment industry worker.[1] Merola went to public schools in the Bronx and graduated from New York University, where he played halfback on the college football team.[2] He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in 1941 and became a combat navigator, flying a total of 55 missions into territory under occupation by Nazis in Europe.[2] He eventually returned to New York and obtained his law degree from the New York University School of Law in 1948.[2]
Career
editMerola's career in public service began in 1957, when he began working as an attorney for the New York City Department of Investigation.[3] In May 1960, he was hired as an assistant district attorney for the Bronx County District Attorney's office, and prosecuted cases there until 1964.[2]
New York City Council
editHe was elected as a Democrat to the New York City Council in November 1963, and was re-elected two times, representing the Bronx from January 1964 to December 1972.[2]
Bronx County District Attorney
editMerola was first elected Bronx County District Attorney in November 1972, and was re-elected three times, serving a total of 15 years until his death in October 1987.[1][2] Merola had a reputation for political independence and outspokenness during his time as District Attorney.[2] Merola was also able to attract bipartisan support during his election campaigns; he received the endorsement of both the Republican Party and the Liberal Party during his final campaign for re-election before he died.[4]
Merola prosecuted a number of high-profile cases, the most notable one being the "Son of Sam" case, where he successfully convicted David Berkowitz for multiple homicides and got him a term of life in prison for his crimes.[3] Another notable case during his tenure was the prosecution of former United States Secretary of Labor Raymond J. Donovan on charges that he stole $7.4 million from a subway construction project. Donovan, a Republican, was ultimately acquitted, and accused Merola of prosecuting him on political grounds.[2] After the acquittal, Donovan famously asked, “Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?”[5]
Merola's office was responsible for the prosecution of a white police officer after the shooting death of Eleanor Bumpurs, a 66-year-old black woman with a history of mental illness, which occurred in the decedent's apartment.[6] The officer was later acquitted.[3]
Personal life and death
editMerola married Tulia Palermo in 1949, and they had three children together: Michael, Elizabeth and Marilou.[1]
On October 27, 1987, Merola had a massive stroke, and passed out on the dining-room floor of his Woodlawn Heights home. He was taken to Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, where he died of a cerebral hemorrhage, less than 12 hours after the stroke.[4] He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.[7]
Legacy
editAt Merola's funeral, Mayor Edward Koch said that he intended to rename the Bronx County Courthouse as the Mario Merola Building, in his honor.[7] It was done the following year, in February 1988.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Mario Merola Grove". NYC Parks Website. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Uhlig, Mark A. (October 28, 1987). "Mario Merola, 65, Prosecutor In The Bronx For 15 Years, Dies – A Streetwise Prosecutor". New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Obituaries: Mario Merola; D.A. in 'Son of Sam' Case". Los Angeles Times. October 31, 1987. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ a b Barron, James (October 28, 1987). "Mario Merola, 65, Prosecutor In the Bronx for 15 Years, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ Fried, Joseph P. (2021-06-05). "Raymond Donovan, 90, Dies; Labor Secretary Quit Under a Cloud". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ Raab, Selwyn (February 1, 1985). "Officer Indicted in Bumpurs Case". New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ a b Uhlig, Mark A. (November 1, 1987). "Merola, Bronx District Attorney, Eulogized As a Man of Conscience". New York Times. Retrieved 19 May 2016.