This week, the surname Mangione became associated with the killing of health-insurance executive Brian Thompson in New York City, when 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was charged with his murder. However, for decades, the name has represented something entirely different: wealth, power, prominence, and philanthropy, particularly within the Italian community of Baltimore.
According to Giovanna Aquia Blatterman, the Mangione family is one of the "most respected" Italian families in the area. Ms. Blatterman, now 77, arrived in the US from Sicily in 1953 and has known three generations of Mangiones. She describes the family as "generous" and "self-made," while Luigi, whom she met briefly about eight years ago, appeared clever, approachable, and handsome. She insists that he is innocent until proven guilty, calling it "one of the greatest honours of being an American citizen."
The Mangione family has deep roots in Little Italy, a cluster of streets in downtown Baltimore. Nicholas Mangione Sr was born there in 1925, starting life in a poor immigrant family. He served in the Navy during World War Two before returning to Maryland and building a series of enterprises. Despite a combative reputation in business, he was known for his generosity within the Italian community.
The Mangione family's philanthropic efforts include donations to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and their name is imprinted on Baltimore. Ms. Blatterman recalls playing bocce with members of the Mangione family before the pandemic and cutting the hair of Luigi Mangione's grandmother in the early 1970s.
When Luigi Mangione was arrested, he was carrying a hand-written document detailing his alleged "ill will" towards corporate elites. Unlike his grandfather, Luigi was born into privilege and attended an all-boys private school in a northern Baltimore suburb. Despite the family's prominence, they have remained largely silent following Luigi's arrest, only releasing a short statement expressing their shock and devastation.
Dylan Segelbaum, a reporter for the Baltimore Banner, notes that the Mangione family owns various businesses ranging from country clubs and golf courses to assisted living facilities. The family has remained relatable and does not "showboat," despite their philanthropic efforts and prominence in the community. While Ms. Blatterman expressed sympathy for the family of Brian Thompson, she also shared her thoughts with the Mangiones during this difficult time.