The new Colombo boss is missing

So, as you can see, this is a 'group' effort that the entire forum is encouraged to participate in. So why don't you contribute that name for us Ralphie? I think I speak for everyone here when I say, we welcome your input.

I thought you were gonna do it. Aren't you a captain in the Colombo crime family? Spill! You already talk more about this life than Sammy Gravano

Ralphie, there's no reason to get derisive, or defensive.

As I tried pointing out to you in my previous post, I started this thread so that everybody who felt they had any knowledge about the subject at hand could contribute and expand this for everyones mutual benefit. Not only regarding the NY/NJ crews, but for all the families that existed throughout the entire United States. Understand?

So if you have nothing constructive to contribute to the discussion. Thats quite ok. Thats not a problem at all.

But like a wiseman once said, "If you have nothing positive to contribute, then it's better to say nothing at all."

For sure is surname is Persico.

Anyone care to provide a chronological list for another Family, regardless of what city or state? Because I think it would be interesting to eventually do em all

The Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY Family

Giuseppe (Joe) Di Carlo Sr. Early 1910-1920
Giovanni (Big John) Montana ?
Angelo (Buffalo Bill) Palmieri 1920s
Stefano (The Old Man) Magaddino 1920s-1974
Salvatore (Sam) Pieri 1970s ?
Joseph (Lead-Pipe Joe) Todaro Sr. Late 1970s-2012
Joseph Todaro Jr. 2012 forward

This is the best I can deduce for the "official" lineup of bosses for the Buffalo Family. There were, of course, many acting and temporary interim bosses installed after Magaddino was deposed from leadership, and as the family went through a realignment of powers and factions. After all the smoke cleared, Joe Todaro Sr. was elected by the rank-n-file to become the new boss of the Family. And subsequently, after his death, his son Joe Jr. is believed to have stepped into the breach.

Note: I welcome everyone on the forum to contribute any additional information they may have about the chronology of this iconic Cosa Nostra network.

Buffalo is at bat...Next on deck...what was the chronological hierarchy of the Cleveland, Ohio Family from the 1910s, forward

Los Angeles.
Sam Matranga 1905-1917 Killed
Pietro Matranga 1917 Killed
1917-1920 unknown, debatable.
Vito Di Giorgio 1920-1922 Killed in Chicago.
Rosario DeSimone 1922-1925
Al Marco 1925-1928 arrested
1928-1931 Contested
Joe Ardizzone 1931
Jack Dragna 1931-1956
Frank DeSimone 1956-1967
Nick Licata 1967-1974
Dominic Brooklier 1974-1984
Peter Milano 1984-2012

San Francisco.
The San Francisco earthquake in 1906 decimated the leadership in the city. Before that it represented all west coast mafia, then the Colorado families represented all mafia west of them. The Camorra still remained strong, and the Calabrians were becoming stronger.
Early 1910s the closest to a mafia family was the Alioto/Ingrassia/Lazio family connection. 1914 feud with the Pedone/Lafata group, a Camorra gang that lasted till 1924 with the killing of Rosalino Lafata.

Lorenzo Lazio 1917-1919
Nunzio Mannina 1920-1924, sent by New Orleans, then stepped down once the Pedone and Lafata group were no longer a threat. Remained in Bay area until his death in the 1960s.
1924-1928 unknown, possible that Giuseppe Alioto or Luciano Sabella may have taken over. By 1928 Frank Lanza was firmly in control of the Sicilians in the Bay area.
1928-1932 mainly Calabrians versus the Camorra, with Salvatore Lima head of the Calabrians aligning with Frank Lanza and Joe Pizza (Dominic Lonardo) in 1928.
Frank Lanza 1932-1937
Anthony Lima Sr 1937- 1953
Mike Abate 1953-1961
Jimmy Lanza 1961-1986
Anthony Lima Jr 1986-1993.

Excellent addition Giacomo! Thank you for your contribution to this thread.

I was generally aware of S.F. chronology. But I must admit, that I had no idea that Anthony Lima Jr. later became a force within the local Family, much less the 'Representante.'

Cleveland
Joe Lonardo 1920-1927 Killed
Joe Porrello 1927- 1930 Killed
Vincenzo Porrello 1930 Killed
Frank Milano 1930- 1935
Al Polizzi 1935-1945 Retired.
John Scalish 1945-1976 Died
Jack Licavoli 1976- 1985
John Tronolone 1985- 1991 Natural Causes
Joe Iacobacci 1991- 2004 Retired.

LOL, you go GV!...Excellent!

Giacomo...

How bout San Jose? and Colorado?

Here's a doozy for the forum.

Who can list the proper chronology for the tiny Family based in Madison, Wisconsin?

Here's a general "Boss" lineup for the Cosa Nostra Family based in the City of Rockford, Illinois

"The Rockford, IL Family”

Antonio (Tony) Musso, 1920s-1958 Official Boss
Giuseppe (Joe Z) Zammuto, 1958-1980s Official Boss
Gaspare (Jasper) Calo, 1930s-1960 Underboss (deposed)
Charles (Charlie Vince) Vinci, 1960-1990s Underboss/Acting Boss ?
Frank (Frankie Bush) Buscemi, 1980s Underboss/Acting Boss ?
Sebastian (Knobby) Gulotta, 1980s/90s-2000 Official Boss
Salvatore (Sam) Galluzzo, 2000-2010s Acting Boss (Official ?)

There is some debate about whether or not fellas like Vinci, Buscemi, or Galluzzo were ever 'officially' installed as "Representante." But each of these men were thought to be leading the borgata at one time or another.

The Family's two most iconic and recognized bosses were, undoubtedly, Musso and Zammuto.

Colorado had a lot of small families, that would become defunct or merged with the Colorado family (Pueblo). Denver had two families or organizations, Fort Collins had one, Pueblo had 4, Colorado Springs had one, Trinidad had two, Canon City had one. Not going to get into the early history too deep, but the Scaglia family of Pueblo is important as it was the first official family from the 1910s to 1922. It caused a war with Kansas City from 1918 to 1920, which is why New Orleans, and New York were sending guys to the west coast. When Pelligrino Scaglia the undisputed boss was killed in 1922, his family was disbanded, with members transferring to other families in Colorado and across the states, shelved, or marked for death, Rosario DeSimone of Los Angeles was one of these men who was marked and stayed in Los Angeles and transferred to that family permanently. When the war was over in New York City, it took a about a month, maybe till November for Colorado to pick its leaders when all mergers were done. The Calabrians had a small group in western Colorado but remained their own group, no hostilities between them and Colorado family. Not so much for the Denver Calabrians led by Joe Roma. Charles Blanda was the official recognized boss after he killed the Carlino brothers, had wanted Denver as well. So he had the Mortellaros from Fort Collins go after Roma, when Vincenzo Mortellaro was killed in 1932, Blanda had to switch tactics. I dont believe the Smaldones were involved, it was just a perfect opportunity for them that they got the cash from Roma hours before Joe was killed. I believe Carlo Amato was one of those involved. He became capo right after and stepped down in favor of Gaetano Smaldone for Capo sometime in the 1940s. Ralph Smaldone was from Potenza and was made in Italy with the Calabrians. His sons even though there is nothing on them going through the ceremony, they were still recognized by the families across the nation.

Colorado Crime Family.
Calogero Blanda 1931- 1950 Retired.
Vincenzo Colletti 1950- 1969 Retired.
Joe Spinuzzi 1969- 1975 Died
Gaetano Smaldone 1975- 1998 Died
Clearance Smaldone 1998- 2006 Died

According to one quite knowledgeable forum member known as Cavita (many props to him), who is a expert on the Rockford fam, said that Buscemi never received the boss position because of his close ties to the Chicago Outfit, meaning he was their guy in Rockford.

Good breakdown and analogy Giacomo. Colorado was an interesting group.

That makes sense about Buscemi. Rockford wanted to keep their independence and installing Buscemi would have usurped that goal.

I agree again and I think that Cavita mentioned something similar. One thing is to be represented, while being controlled is another. Although the info regarding Giancana being quite mad at Milwaukee's boss and also had one quite heated convo with Balistrieri because he was making deals with Bonanno without Giancanas knowledge, something which gives us another view, meaning I still dont know much about the level of influence Chicago had over these small families. Maybe it was because Chicago placed Balistrieri as boss and thats why the Rockford fam was smarter.

Edit: heres one interesting file regarding Rockford and Chicago...

A couple mistakes on the early years, here's how I believe it should go:

Bonanno:
Paolo Orlando: 1900?-1903? left america, came back in 1906 and was deported 3 years later
Sebastiano DiGaetano: 1909? or 1910- 1912 (acting capo dei capi)
Nicolo Schiro: 1912-1930
Salvatore Maranzano: 1930-1931
Angelo Caruso: acting boss 1931
Joseph Bonanno: 1931-1964


Colombo:
Manfredi Mineo 1912-1928
Salvatore DiBella: 1928?-1930?
Giuseppe Profaci:??-1962


Gambino family:
Nicola Taranto (possible): ?-1896
Ignazio Lupo: ?-1910
Giovanni Lupo (possible acting boss): 1910-1912
Salvatore D'Aquila: 1912-1928
Manfredi Mineo: 1928-1930
Frank Scalice: 1930-31?
Vincenzo Mangano: 1931-1951
Albert Anastasia: 1951-1957
Carlo Gambino: 1957-1960 acting boss; 1960-76 official

Genovese:
Giuseppe Masseria: he began as boss sometime between 1921 to 1924, he remained as boss until his murder
Salvatore "charlie Lucky" Luciano 1931-1936; went to jail, but remained as boss until 1946?
Chee Gusae [ph]- 1936, acting
Frank Costello 1937-1946 acting; 1946-1957 official
Vito Genovese: 1936 acting; 1957-1969 official

Luchese:
Giuseppe Morello-began as boss sometime between 1897 and 1903; remained as boss until 1910
Giovanni Pecoraro: 1910-1912 acting boss
Fortunato LoMonte: 1912-1914
Ippolito Greco: possible boss until 1915 murder
Salvatore Loiacano: ?- December 1920 murder
Gaetano Reina- began as boss sometime between 1921-1924; ruled until 1930 murder
Bonventura Pinzolo: 1930; killed in coup by Dominick"the gap" Petrilli
Tommaso Gagliano: 1930-1951

It is confirmed by Nicola Gentile that Chicago Heights had a family

The second Chicago family had two or maybe three bosses (Sanfilippo, Piazza and possibly Martino or Nerone) and by 1925 they were eliminated by the mainlanders such as the Robertos and Emery. It seems the Chi Heights family was in close alliance with the Gennas from the West Side which were also exterminated during 1924/25 or during the same time. Love these stuf, especially when I read regarding mainlanders killing old school or traditional mafia sicilians.

Ill add something on Manfredi Mineo. He had his own gang, merged with Salvatore D'Aquila, then broke away, this is when Salvatore DiBella was head of his own family. Which means and this is something I believe in, is that D'Aquila was dealing with a renegade faction in his family for a time. I believe Mineo was also involved in Salvatore D'Aquila killing since Manfredi took over D'Aquila family soon after, and had support from Giuseppe Masseria, and Gaetano Riina. It is easy to say well we have two families from Palermo area so Manfredi had to he a boss of that one, than it broke away. Truthfully that part of its history gets complicated as we have very little to work with. I still stand by with what I said. By far 1912 is an interesting year for organized crime, not just in New York City, but across the nation.

where are you getting he merged with Salvatore D'Aquila? Also by gang do you mean family? the mafia families pre-1931 certainly weren't gangs in the way the bloods and crips are. They were highly organized, even more organized than they currently are.

In addition, I would also like to add that Chicago's Mike Merlo (possibly), Tony Lombardo and Joe Aiello were probably under the D'Aquila regime.

lol what are you talking about? Chicago had its own family, they werent under anyone.

Sully, I believe you are correct in some of your additions here. I definitely forgot a few. But as far as Manfredi Mineo goes, I do not believe he ever had anything to do with the early development of what later became the Profaci/Colombo group. In my mind, (unless I'm mistaken here), I always had him connected to what later developed into the Mangano/Scalice Family (Anastasia/Gambino).

I suggest you read the Informer May 2014 edition. Their evidence for him being boss is when Giuseppe Fontana was murdered. Salvatore Clemente (a made member in Morello's borgata) reported that Fontana was killed by Mineo's family.

Thats possible. But it still isn't proof, nor does it mean that Manfredi Mineo was necessarily part of the old Profaci group. There could have been, and often was, inter-family conflicts during those years.

In fact, I believe that it's been well documented that future Colombo capo Tommy DeBella's father, Salvatore DeBella, was the founding 'father' of what later become the Profaci/Colombo borgata. Before Joe Profaci became/was ratified the boss of this Family.

And even earlier than that, there is strong evidence that from the ashes of early Brooklyn strife and gang warfare, (before the development of the 5 families, per se) both amongst themselves, and in conflict with each other, separate Napolitani and Sicilian factions (whose relatives became later powers within the Profaci group) fought for turf and power., and were the early 'seeds' of power. I'm speaking about such men as Michael (The Sweetheart) Abbatemarco (brother of Frank 'Frankie Shots' Abbatemarco, Giuseppe (The Clutch Hand) Paraino (the father of future Profaci hoods Anthony and Joseph Peraino), and a few others.