Western Massachusetts mafia elder statesman Mario Fiore celebrated his 100th birthday this week.

Dapper and quick witted, Fiore, a Genovese crime family soldier based out of Springfield who goes all the way back to the days of Vito Genovese himself, the Chin and Springfield’s iconic Scibelli brothers, is believed to be the oldest active La Cosa Nostra member in the United States. He can often be seen making the rounds in the South End and is known to give counsel to the few remaining Springfield mob shot callers around these days. His nephew is local mob figure Rex Cunningham, 73 years old and one of the most respected and feared LCN associates on the East Coast.

Fiore was busted for bookmaking and racketeering in October 1985 and pleaded guilty two years later. According to FBI intelligence reports and federal-court records, Fiore ran gambling operations and travel junkets to Las Vegas and Atlantic City for Albert (Baba) Scibelli and Anthony (Turk) Scibelli from the 1970s into the 1990s. During his time operating his travel junkets, Fiore socialized with the Rat Pack, Liza Minelli, Tony Bennett and other entertainment-world dignitaries. Sources say Fiore briefly engaged in a romance with Minelli.

“Baba” and “Turk” Scibellis’ brother, Francesco (Frankie Skyball) Scibelli was street boss of the Springfield crew, a longtime branch of New York’s Genovese mob, for more than three decades. The Scibellis all died of natural causes (Baba was the last to go in 2012 at the ripe old age of 91). “Frankie Skyball” allegedly “made” Fiore at a 1982 induction ceremony, per sources and federal intel briefings.

48 years. Why was made so late?

More info on earlier days. Did he personally work for Don Vito?

48 years. Why was made so late?[/quote]


He was about 58 when he was made, not too uncommon for the Mob