Charles Raffa

Charles Raffa (c. 1904-October 19, 1988) was an Italian emigrant to New York City who became a successful businessman. He was the father of Matilda Cuomo, and the maternal grandfather of Andrew Cuomo.^[1]

Personal life

Raffa was born circa 1904 and emigrated to the United States from Messina, Italy 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.

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.^[2]

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.^[3]