I don't think even his alias last name "Scarpo" is Italian.. if so it's gotta be a very unpopular name, it's certainly one that I've never heard before. Scarpa, or Scarfo then that's a different story
You hit it right on the head, buddy. His pen name (even though he swears it's not), is a composite between Scarfo and Scarpa. It's as transparent as Scotch tape.
He's Jewish---and I LOVE the Jews. Of all the European immigrants that came here with our grandparents, we have the most in common with the Jews: Food, family and guilt

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My Mother used to say that except for Jesus and pork chops, the Jews are just like us

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But the fact that Leiber LIES about his heritage displays a self-hate that makes me respect him even less than I already do.