Name the mafioso who you think was the absolute “longest serving” boss of any Family in the United States?

Was it someone from the fabled Five Families? Was he from a Midwest Family, or from the West Coast?

That said, who were some of the other “long serving” Family bosses?

Let’s see how big a list we can compile. Next to whatever name you list, try and include the years he was boss.

I thought it was Persico? Early 70s to late 2010s?

You may be correct. Carmine Persico is definitely on the short list for the longest serving boss. The FBI "officially" named his boss around 1979 or so, but I believe you're correct when you say he was actually the boss from at least the mid-1970s forward (through proxies). He died in 2019. So thats somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 years.... thats a long run.

Who else would you say is in the running?

Joe Profaci and Joe Bonanno both served as NYC bosses for over 30 years...

Joe Profaci from 1928/1931 until 1962. His reign ended when he died of cancer.

Joe Bonanno was boss from 1931 until the mid 1960's. He retired to Arizona.

They may not take the title of ''longest'' serving but their longevity is impressive due to being original bosses of the 1931 commission bosses.

I agree with you. Completely. Not only were they both "originals" but they both achieved almost incalculable wealth, and the best part about it, neither one of them served any real jail time to speak of (the short exception being in the twilight of Bonanno's life when Rudy Guiliani jailed him on contempt, for his refusal to answer questions)

http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1075015&Searchpage=2&Main=43188&Words=%2Blongest+%2Bserving+%2Bboss&Search=true#Post1075015

Cant believe this shit...is this part III, IV or XII

San Francisco Family boss James “Jimmy the Hat” Lanza headed that small Family for nearly 45 years.

He took over in approximately 1961, and remained boss until his death in 2006. (By that point in time, it’s debatable about what, if anything, remained of that borgata.) Nonetheless, he went to his grave as the boss.

Tony Accardo?

Stefano "The Undertaker" Magaddino.

Carlos Marcello,New Orleans. Approx. 1947-1983

I think the question mark (?) make senes. Because I think Accardo served in several capacities over the years; underboss, consigliere, acting boss, boss....I believe his exact position was somewhat fluid and murky.

But, that said, there's no doubt about it, if not the boss, (per se,) nonetheless he was always at the very pinnacle of power.

Magaddino is definitely a contender for this title. In fact, we have to check the particulars, but he may actually take this title.

This man was the boss for around a half-century, from at least the late 1920s, until he was deposed in the late 1960s. Thats a near 50 year run at the top.

A 36-year run? Then there's no doubt about it. Marcello was absolutely another underworld icon.

Not many bosses made it to the 50th anniversary though. Magaddino came close.

Agreed. (and I could be mistaken with him.) Magaddino may have been a boss for 50 years....because his early profile while he lived back in Brooklyn is a bit convoluted.

Yes I counted from 1931 when the Commission was established. He was probably already boss before that through his Sicilian ties.

I think he was deposed from power around 1968 or so. (but I agree, he was probably a boss before the "official" establishing of The Commission)

However we want to slice it, he was a potent force for at least a half-century (his family's power dating back to Sicily)

Another fella I believe was a long-serving Family boss was the little talked about Antonio (Tony) Musso, who is generally credited with having been the founding father of the borgata in Rockford, Illinois around the early to mid-1920s. I believe he maintained his position as boss until the late 1950s....which would have afforded him a 35+ year run at the top.

Vic Amuso Is the GUY that comes My Mind

I'd have to check the exact years he's led the borgata. But you may be right. At the very least, you're close. Because I believe that he took control shortly after Tony Ducks got convicted in the 1985-86 Commission. case. If that's true, 1986-87 or so, then he's be at the helm (whether free or behind bars) since then....thats over 35 years.

@NYMafia

I just realized. Joe Bonanno; Joe Profaci; Carmine Persico; and Vic Amuso are the only 4 bosses in NYC/LCN history to serve 30+ years as boss of their family (either on the streets; or in prison)

Am I right? There's no one else....]

Longest serving NYC bosses in LCN history:

Joe Profaci - 1928/1931-1962 - 31-34 years (depends on year)
Joe Bonanno - 1931-Mid 1960;s - (Atleast 34-35 years)
Carmine Persico - Early 1970's- 2019 (45+ years)
Vic Amuso - 1986/1987 to Present (37 years or so)

LOL. Zavattoni, I think you may be right. But thats a lot of info for me to unpack.

I'm in the middle of dinner with the family, so let me finish my plate of lasagna and then I'm gonna delve into what you said, ok?

I'll hit you back with a response as soon as I can.

I will say, off the top of my head, that the top NYC boss in modern times, Chin Gigante, had been the boss, give or take, since about 1980. So he had at least a 25 years or so. But even that pales in comparison to some of the guys you mentioned.

Father and Son Trafficante together were also unique.

Sr ruled, after Ignazio Italiano died in 1930, until his death in 1954.
Jr ruled from 1954 till 1987.

100%!

@NYMafia

It is definately alot to take in that they are the only ''4'' NYC bosses to have served 30+ years at the helm of their respective family. Not; V. Genovese; Frank Costello; Gambino; Rastelli; Mangano; Colombo.... Tommy Lucchese...The list goes on....

I can't wait to hear your take on this.....

ALSO!

Shouldn't Barney Bellomo be mentioned in this thread? Hasn't he been at the top of the Genovese family as ''Acting boss'' or ''Official Boss'' since 1990/1992?

This means that he has been in the top position in the Genovese family for over 30 years?

Zavattoni, off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other NYC-based bosses through the years who surpassed the men you mentioned as the longest serving “representante” of their respective borgatas.

N.Y. boss Stefano Magaddino also fits the bill. But he operated in upstate New York, not the New York City Metropolitan area, per se.

Good job!

Barney Bellomo? Yessiree! I believe so.

This is good stuff!

He's not from NY. But another guy who I think deserves some props is Frank Zito, the longtime boss of Springfield, Illinois' borgata.

If I'm not mistaken, he became boss by at least 1931 (maybe earlier,) and remained the boss until his death in 1974. Thats a forty-some-odd-year run. (not bad, right?)

He lived quietly and prosperously, essentially never served any real jail time, and with the exception of the Apalachin debacle in 1957, largely flew under the radar for most of his career.

TOMMY L