William “Bill” DeAngelo

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Born one of eighteen children on a farm in Centermoreland, Pa. during the depression, years made for a tough beginning for Bill DeAngelo, who had to leave school at an early age to work in the coal mines of Wilkes-Barre. At the age of fifteen, he started his amateur boxing career while still working in the coal mines. Bill boxed at the Wilkes-Barre Armory, the West Pittston Armory, Lake Wallenpaupack, as well as the Scranton C.Y.C. During this time, Bill was fortunate to win two out of three fights against the then Northeastern Pa. champion, Bobby Provizzio. Later, when Bobby turned professional, he went on to challenge the middleweight champion, Sugar Ray Robinson. During his early amateur years, Bill could not afford to pay for a manager and trainer, so he turned to his older brothers, Charles and Russell DeAngelo, who helped develop him into a fine boxer. At the age of nineteen, Bill turned professional and was licensed to box in Penna. as well as the state of New York. During Bill’s professional training he was managed by Joe Rodano of Wilkes-Barre. While boxing in New York State at places like the popular (old) Madison Square Garden, the city of White Plains, N.Y., Ridgewood Grove, N.Y., and St. Nick’s N.Y., he was managed by Tommy Ryan. Tommy also managed well-known boxers like Rocky Castellani. Bill trained with and was a sparring partner for great boxers like Charles “Chucky” Bloss of Wilkes-Barre, GEne Buffalo of New York state, and Rocky Castellani of Stillman’s Gym, New York City. DeAngelo was Rocky’s No. 1 sparring partner while he (Rocky) was training to fight BoBo Olson for the Middleweight Championship of the World. Bill recorded a fine record of 44 wins and 6 losses during his boxing career, and decided to hang up his gloves when he met his wife, the former Mary Ciavarella of Wilkes-Barre. From 1952 to 1969, Bill worked as a carpenter for Ed Eyerman & Son of Wilkes-Barre. In 1969, he started his own construction business, now known as DeAngelo Construction Company, Inc., and has been successful building residential and commercial buildings throughout the Wyoming Valley. Active in his community, Bill is a member of Holy Rosary Church and serves as an usher. He is also an officer in the Sons of Italy of America, Lodge 1397, a member of the Italian-American Veterans Post #1. Bill is an inductee to the Wyoming Valley Boxing Hall of Fame and an active member of the Building Industries Assn. of NE Penna. Bill resides with his wife, Mary, at 4 No. Hancock St., Wilkes-Barre. They have two children, Rosaria DeAngelo Shaver of Shavertown, and William, Jr., of Dallas, Pa. They have four grandchildren.