About Anthony Martin Sinatra
Lived 1892 – 1969 (aged 76). Anthony Martin Sinatra was an American and Italian boxer, firefighter and bar manager.
Anthony Martin Sinatra (born Saverio Antonino Martino Sinatra;
On December 21, 1903, he emigrated to New York City from Catania, Sicily, on the SS Città di Milano with his mother Rosa Saglimbeni Sinatra, his sisters Angela and Dorotea, and his brother. His father, Francesco, born in Lercara Friddi, was already in the city working in a pencil factory earning eleven dollars a week, and his mother went on to own and operate a small grocery shop. Sinatra himself apprenticed as a shoemaker, until he started prize-fighting, calling himself Marty O'Brien, because Italians were not welcomed in boxing.
On February 14, 1913, Sinatra eloped with Natalie Garaventa (also known as "Dolly"), in Jersey City, New Jersey, as Dolly's parents refused to host a wedding and did not approve of Marty, as he was illiterate, inferior at boxing, and was a Sicilian, whereas the Garaventa family were Ligurian.
The couple eventually moved to 415 Monroe Street, Hoboken, New Jersey. Their only child, Francis Albert Sinatra, was born on December 12, 1915.
Sinatra continued his boxing career until he broke his wrists after 30 professional fights. He then attempted to find marine work but was rejected due to asthma. Dolly helped him find work as a fireman, and he was eventually appointed to the Hoboken Fire Department in 1927, where he attained the rank of Captain without having to take any formal exams.
While still a captain in the fire department, Sinatra and his wife opened a tavern, called Marty O'Brien's. With sufficient income, the family of three moved to a three-bedroom apartment, only a few blocks away from Monroe Street, but well out of Little Italy, at 703 Park Avenue.
Death Sinatra suffered a fatal heart attack on January 24, 1969 at a Houston hospital at age 76. He was buried at the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California; other family members, including Frank Sinatra and Anthony's wife are buried nearby.
Popular culture In the 1992 CBS miniseries Sinatra (a series about the life of his son Frank), he is portrayed by Joe Santos.
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Anthony Martin Sinatra's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Anthony Martin Sinatra's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Anthony Martin Sinatra?
Father of Frank Sinatra
When was Anthony Martin Sinatra born?
Anthony Martin Sinatra was born on 4 May 1892 in Lercara Friddi.
When did Anthony Martin Sinatra die?
Anthony Martin Sinatra died on 24 January 1969 in Houston.
What was Anthony Martin Sinatra's occupation?
Anthony Martin Sinatra was a boxer, firefighter and bar manager.
What nationality was Anthony Martin Sinatra?
Anthony Martin Sinatra was American and Italian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Anthony Martin Sinatra
· DBpedia: Anthony Martin Sinatra
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Anthony Martin Sinatra. https://biography.guide/anthony-martin-sinatra/
MLA: "Anthony Martin Sinatra." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/anthony-martin-sinatra/.
Chicago: "Anthony Martin Sinatra." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/anthony-martin-sinatra/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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