How does he fit into the modern day bonanno picture? He seems to be a better fit to be the boss than Michael mancuso

But did Catalano ever learn English? I think somebody posted earlier that he wasn't appointed acting boss in the 80s because he had these language problems: having and American family headed by somebody who doesn't even speak English, while many younger American mafiosi don't speak Italian, wouldn't be exactly the best choice. Not sure though whether it was a joke or serious information....

He actually did serve a short stint as acting boss back in the early 80's, you would think after 25 years in the can his English would be great

You are right most likely, I haven't thought of that...So my post seems kind of dumb now But he was acting underboss I think; the acting boss was Salvatore Farruggia (I think his nickname was "Sally Fruits"). But why somebody can't be boss but can be underboss if not knowing English was the problem, this isn't really clear to me though: an underboss has to interact with others as much as the boss. But is he still in the USA? I thought he returned to Sicily, Onofrio Catalano (Salvatore's brother I think) is or was boss of Ciminna there (and strangely never got whacked, although it was said he was against Riina and supported Gaetano Grado's group, which killed some Corleonesi in the late 80s or first 90s, around that time).

Dwalin I don't think ur post was dumb pal, i think it's definitely valid.. i was under the impression Sal didnt speak english either and that logically is a main barrier to him bein an effective acting boss

This may be a dumb question, but is Catalano involved with the Bonnanos at all or is hr still living in Italy? Anyone think he's reviving an old heroin pipeline to his former associates in NY?

Catalano moved back to Italy after being released from prison

[img:center]http://www.repstatic.it/content/localire...30e76b4676a.jpg
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Sal Catalano in recent times.



Sal Catalano after 25 y of prison was expelled from the USA and turned to Ciminna the city where he was born in 1941.
For the leanguage problem I think is an excuse because catalano was in the usa from the 1965 and I think that maybe spoke with an italian accent but was able to fave order to the american mafiosi.I think Rastelli don't trust the zips because how they betrayled Galante.
I think that if catalano would get the green card after get out would be a good candidate for be the boss.

Yeah, but him not having learned English for decades in prison would have been weird, that's why I thought it was funny on my part not having thought of that If he left prison after 25 years with the same level of English as during the Pizza Connection trial, that would mean he really has nerves of steel and is stubborn as a mule against learning foreign languages Unless they kept him in a prison wing full of native Italian inmates, I doubt any person can take it without trying to talk to anybody for 25 years, that would be an absolute record. Carlo Caputo from Madison didn't learn English for decades as I read, but he wasn't in jail and had Italian people around to speak to all the time.


So he is the boss in Ciminna now or is Onofrio the boss like before? Is Onofrio Catalano still alive? I read that in his first testimony Buscetta mentioned a Giuseppe Catalano as the Ciminna boss, but I don't know if it's their father or another brother....Here, but it's in Italian though:
http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1984/10/03/capi-famiglie.html
Strange though: Salvatore Catalano has a 1933 birthdate here though, is it wrong or is it another mafioso with the same both first and last names?