Russell Bufalino was one of the most powerful Mafia bosses of the 20th century. Based in Pennsylvania’s coal country, Bufalino’s influence extended to Philadelphia, Buffalo, Atlantic City, New York and beyond. After the Quiet Don’s death in 1994, Billy D’Elia, Bufalino’s “adopted” son and longtime righthand man, took over the crime family and became a major organized crime figure himself. In his new book The Life We Chose, journalist Matt Birkbeck obtained exclusive interviews with D’Elia that provide a candid look inside the Bufalino empire and explosive new insights into the murder of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa.
A book signing will follow from 8 – 9 p.m.
Featured Speaker
Matt Birkbeck
Matt Birkbeck is an award winning investigative journalist and best-selling author. His books include A Beautiful Child (2004) and its sequel Finding Sharon (2018), which were adapted by Netflix for the 2022 film Girl in the Picture, which Birkbeck served as executive producer. His other work includes Deconstructing Sammy (2008), the story of entertainment legend Sammy Davis, Jr., A Deadly Secret (2002/2015), which tracked the bizarre story of New York real estate heir Robert Durst, and The Quiet Don (2013), the saga of Russell Bufalino, who was among the most powerful leaders of the Mafia during the latter half of the 20th Century. As an investigative journalist, Birkbeck won a prestigious Investigative Reporters and Editors award in 2002 for his multi-part series on mortgage fraud, which led to multiple law enforcement investigations and Congressional hearings in 2004.
He has also served as a correspondent for PEOPLE magazine, where he primarily covered human interest and crime stories. He has also written for Reader’s Digest, Playboy, The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Magazine, and others. His next book. The Life We Chose, will be published in July.
