TRENTON _ Joseph ''Babe'' Persico, of Hamilton, was a
lifelong Trenton-area resident who became a familiar figure
to passengers during his 49 years of driving for Yellow Cab.
Mr. Persico was born in Chambersburg , attended Trenton's
Carroll Robbins and Centennial schools, beginning work at
the age of 13 in the Stokes Rubber Co. of Trenton. Before
turning to taxi driving, he worked in the Pennsylvania
Railroad car shops, at Thorn's Cracker Bakery and was also
a truck driver. An avid boxing fan, Mr. Persico fought 10
professional fights as a bantam and featherweight under the
name Willie Fleming between 1918-20. He also served as a
second for three boxers, welterweights Paulie Walker and
Willie Wiggins, and bantamweight Lou DeAngelo, all of
Trenton.
In his youth, he played shortstop with the Trenton Yanks
and was captain of the team in 1919.
In 1926, when taxi cabs still featured open areas over the
drivers, he began working for Yellow Cab Co. on East Front
Street and later at the Clinton Street Station, chauffeuring
passengers who included Albert Einstein, Lou Gehrig and Babe
Ruth. He retired in 1975, having received an award from the
Teamsters Union for his safe driving record.
5 years ago
4 comments:
Mr. Persico was a neighbor of ours. Ralph, if I recall correctly, he lived next door to your sister Margie and Joe Bodnar on the 800 block of S. Clinton, near Mercer Confectionary.
I never knew him to be a fighter. To me, he was always a driver of Yellow Cabs. A truly nice guy!
His daughter Joyce was a writer for the Trentonian for many years.
Yeah Bill: My sister law remembers them well. He lived next door with his wife Hatti and daughter Joyce. My sister law's memory is pretty good, that was a long time ago and you do well also. I remember most of the fighters but not him. Best regards.
Babe was a long time friend of mine, I think he started with the old Terminal Cab company that was once on Walnut Avenue and owned then by Trenton Transit.
Things were much different in those days
Babe Persico was my dad and Hattie was my mom. Hardly anyone called him by his real name, Joseph, and he was a wonderful man. He passed in 1997, one month short of his 93rd birthday and was healthy in all but the final six months of his life. My parents were wonderful people. And I continue to work for The Times of Trenton, only now on a freelance basis. Joyce Persico
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