Can you name any sons who followed their fathers into the Mafia?

Especially those fathers who had been the bosses of their own Families, or had been hierarchy leaders.

A good example of what I speak of is Santo Trafficante Jr., who not only followed his father Santo Sr., into the life, but later took over the Tampa, Florida based borgata that his father had once led.

Another prime example of this would be California’s James “Jimmy the Hat” Lanza, who was eventually elected to become the new boss of the San Francisco Family that his father Francesco “Frank” Lanza is generally credited with having first established.

Have at it fellas. Let’s see how many you can name...

The case of Trafficantes was the only case of a seat of boss succefully pass from father to son!

Carmine Persico tried to do the same with Allie Boy but failed and Allie Boy will die in prison like his father;Gotti jr was so dumb that someone thinked to whack him.Ray Patriarca jr was a weak boss that damaged his borgata and Scarfo sr wanted his son as successor but Nicky must fled Philly.

Andy Mush have both his sons made,so Greg Scarpa.

I would also say Joe Todaro Sr and Jr, at least they never went to jail, or not for a long time anyway (even though it's debatable whether their organization is still active or not).

Don Carlo Gambino -Tommy Gambino
Giuseppe Peraono - Anthony and Joseph Peraino - Butchie and Joe Peraino - Colombo’s
Joe Colombo - Joe Colombo Jr Anthony Colombo and Christopher Colombo
Andrew (Andy) Russo - Joseph (JoJo) Russo Billy Russo - Colombo’s
Vincent (The Chin) Gigante - Andrew Gigante Vincent Esposito - Genovese
James (Jimmy The Clam) Eppolito - James (Jim Jim) Eppolito - Gambino
Joe Bonanno- Bill Bonanno - Bonanno
Nicky Scarfo - Nicky Scarfo Jr - Philadelphia
Raymond Patriarca - Raymond Paitriarca Jr - Boston/Rhode Island

I Know there is Many MORE fathers and sons but that’s call i Can think of right now

I agree with you.

My original question was not necessarily whether sons who followed their fathers into the life were successful or not. It was more just to compose a list of "father and son" mafiosi. Younger guys who composed the "next generation" of Cosa Nostra.

Especially those men, like the Trafficantes and Lanzas, who were at the "top tier" of various families.

By that measuring stick, guys like the Persicos and Russos fit into that mold as well.

And Dwalin, I think your contribution of the Todaros to this list is another good example of father/son boss material.

Excellent contributions to this thread, Butchie.

Giuseppe (Joe) Profaci, and his son, Salvatore (Sally Pro) Profaci.

For that matter, Joe's brother, Salvatore Profaci Sr., and his son, Sal Profaci Jr.

Was gonna say that but I thought it was Only his brothers I knew he had Sons but didint Think they were Invovolved cause they Ran or Run all the Cheese Olive Oil and Cheese Companies out of New Jersey Past or Current

Yes, back in the day, they were all involved. In fact, that massive multimillion-dollar a year wholesale cheese, olive oil and Italian food distributorship Sal Profaci headed was one that he inherited from his father, who had originally started that company back in Brooklyn, NY back in the 1930s. In his time, it was said that Joe Profaci became the single largest importer of olive oil in the United States.

It’s my Understand the Profacis still have a Small Piece in the Olive Oil Cheese Tomato Paste Industry to this day I meant to say Tomato Paste but I said Cheese Twice in my Past paragraph

As the years passed, Sal Profaci moved to NJ and expanded their food business. By the early 1970s, he installed an Italian-born associate named Michael Piancone to act as his frontman.

To protect his extensive assets, Profaci eventually distanced himself from these firms, forming an arms-length contractual agreement between his food companies and a newly incorporated "consulting" firm headed by himself, which funneled profits to him as said "consultant," but shielded him from certain liabilities.

Simultaneously, his brothers and cousins started created an interlocking series of front companies and parent companies that held ownership of their vast NY-based olive oil manufacturing and importing investments.

Ostensibly, the Profaci family eventually went public and sold off their companies to a major company, but were named to the board of directors and given key positions in this new venture.

......They are very smart and sharp people!

NJ Family boss Sam DeCavalcante...whose father was an early capodecina in the same NJ borgata by the name of Frank DeCavalcante.

As much as I Know about Sam DeCavalcante never came Across anything about his Father Being in the Life learn something New Everyday

No doubt, we do. lol

You Guys seem to Know a lot more then other Sources for Sure

Thank you, Butchie. We certainly try. We like to think thats what makes ButtonGuys of The New York Mafia unique, and makes us us.

Here's another father/son combo.... Rosario DeSimone, and his son, Frank DeSimone (both were bosses of the Los Angeles borgata)

Philly has a ton of these--guys who were boss or underboss or consig and whose sons entered the life:

Scarfo and son, mentioned above
Joseph "Chickie" Ciancaglini and his sons John, Michael and Joe
Phil Testa and Salvie Testa
Chuckie Merlino and Skinny Joey


Then some guys who were powerful if not top-tier:

Salvatore "Wayne" Grande and Domenic Grande, even though his dad flipped
Frank "Chickie" Narducci and his sons Phil and Frank
Anthony "The Blonde Babe" Pungitore and his sons Joe and Anthony

Then I feel like the Scafidi family also has several generations, at least one of whom flipped.

Real good contribution, Giacomo.

Here’s a few from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s LaRocca Family….

Former boss Giovanni “John” Bazzano Sr., and his son, future boss John Bazzano Jr.

Former boss Francesco “Frank” Amato Sr., and his son, capo Frank “Sonny” Amato Jr.

Soldier Paolo “Paul” Romeo Sr., and his son, soldier Paul Romeo Jr.

Genovese Family "Acting Boss" Thomas (Tommy Ryan) Eboli, and his son, Chicago Outfit soldier, Louis (Louie the Mooch) Eboli.

Buffalo boss Stefano (The Old Man) Magaddino, and his son, soldier Peter Magaddino.

Francis (Frank Snuffy) Innarella - Philadelphia Associate/Soldier-Bookmaker
- Son - Francis (Faffy) Innerella - Former Capo/Acting Capo Retired Soldier

Good additions. I forgot about those two. lol.

Bonanno boss Gaspare DiGregorio, and his son, Bonanno soldier Anthony DiGregorio.

Original Lucchese Family boss Gaetano (Tom) Reina, and his son, soldier Giacomo (Jack) Reina.

Here's another....

An original member of Santo Trafficante’s Tampa, Florida Family was Angelo Bedami. His sons were Family soldiers Joseph and Ciro Bedami.

Richie and Tony Boiardo.

Bingo! The Boiardos are another perfect example of generational father/son mafiosi

Can add John "Coo Coo" Grande to the Grande Family. Father of Salvatore and Joseph.
Dominick "Tommy Adams" DiNorscio father of Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio
Gaetano Scafidi was father to Sam and Rocco Scafidi
Nicholas Virgilio and Michael Virgilio
Phil Testa's father Savatore was also a member
Mario Riccobene father of Harry Riccobene
Michael Maggio father to Peter and Mario Maggio
John Stanfa father to Joe Stanfa
Believe Charles Costello had a son Joseph made as well.
Charles Iannece and Vincent Iannece if Vince is made