History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - People - Bios

 
Jimmy Zingale

Born:
Died:

September 30, 1923
March 16, 1996
Primary Involvements:

 
Bar owner/ Business manager

 

 

 

       
 

Jimmy Zingale may be best known as one of the original owners of the Castaways South Bar from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s.

Jimmy was a cousin of gay bar mogul Chuck Cicirello-- and Jimmy is said to have given Chuck his first bar job in the coat check of his "Castaways" bar.

In September 1986, there was a huge blaze that destroyed The Telephone House, a telephone store at the corner of 2nd and National in Milwaukee. According to a contributor to this article, Jeff Waldecker lit the match that burned the Telephone House. He is said to have turned State's Evidence against Zingale (who owned the property) to avoid prison, but ended up there himself after a drunk driving arrest revoked his probationary sentence.

Jimmy Zingale died on March 16, 1996. His obituary included the following: "Residence Milwaukee. Loving and cherished father of Carma Sue (Russell) Rainer, Jeannette Jay (Nino) Piller and Debora Ann Zingale. Treasured grandpa of Shannon (Todd) Czubinski and Christopher Rainer. Dear brother of Mary Stiglitz, Frank Zingale and Thomas (Rose) Zingale. Former spouse and caring lifelong friend of Eleanor Zingale. Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many good friends... Memorials appreciated to the American Lung Association of Wisconsin or the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin."

 


Advertisement for Castaways South bar, Feb. 1971

Credits: information contributed by Rick Stabler, October 2009;
Dates and obituary from Michail Takach.
Website creation and design by Don Schwamb;
Last updated: October-2009.

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