Among New York’s infamous Five Families, over the course of their history, which one experienced the most violence. I’m NOT discussing their general “rank and file” members and soldiers who may have been killed.

What I’m referring to is the top “hierarchy” of their respective borgatas…the boss, underboss and consigliere.

In other words, among the Families, which one had the most “leaders” killed through the years. Who lost the most to violence?

Was it the….

A) Masseria/Luciano (Genovese)
B) D’Aquila/Mangano (Gambino)
C) Maranzano (Bonanno)
D) Profaci (Colombo)
E) Reina/Gagliano (Lucchese)

Whats your opinion?

I think it's easily the Gambinos. Most of the big families had leaders "touched" at one point or another, but the Gambinos had multiple bosses or underbosses clipped.

Colombos: Joe Colombo, a boss.

Bonnanos: Galante, the 3 Captains(they were not leadership technically, but high ranking)

Genovese: Zeccardi, either a boss or a front boss, depending on who you ask

Chicago: Giancana, and maybe Nitti if you want to count him in, both acting/front bosses, depending on who you ask

Gambinos: Mangano, Anastasia, Castellano, DeCicco

I'm probably leaving out a bunch of high ranking captains but it's clear to me the Gambinos come out on top, or at the bottom, depending on how you look at it.

Montrose, I think what you've said is an excellent overview.

Personally, although I've posed the question, I, myself, have not evaluated each family and fully thought it through yet, but you may very well be correct in your assessment of the Five Families.

The Gambinos.
Vincent Mangano-Boss
Phil Mangano-Consiglieri
Frank Scalise-Underboss
Albert Anastasia-Boss
Paul Castellano-Boss
Tommy Bilotti-Underboss
Frank DiCicco-Underboss
Frank Cali- Done by a nut but was still killed

If we go back before the 5 families were formed, we can positively identify two more leaders killed, with a possible 5 others in administration positions during that time who were killed.

Good catch Giacomo. I had this list below which I was just about to post when you posted yours. (but, I had forgotten about Frank DeCicco and Frank Cali)
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Colombo: Aside from Joe Colombo himself who was shot and incapacitated, I’m hard pressed to think of any other “hierarchy” members who were killed. All five families had many capodecina who fell victim to violence through the decades, but as far as boss, underboss or consigliere, I can’t think of any for the Colombos, per se.

Genovese: Dating back to their earliest days, this Family has seen more than their fair share of internal violence; boss Giuseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria, his underboss “The Clutch Hand” Morello, underboss Quarico “Willie Moore” Moretti, underboss/acting boss Anthony “Tony Bender” Strollo, underboss Thomas “Tommy Ryan” Eboli, consigliere Carmine “Eli the Baker” Zeccardi….I’m sure they had a few more too.

Lucchese: Their original leader, Gaetano Reina, was killed back in the early 30s. Then puppet-leader Joe Pinzolo, After that there were a few more in later years like acting boss Andimo “Tommy Noto” Pappadio, and Anthony “Buddy” Luongo.

Bonanno: Of course the infamous Salvatore “Don Turiddo” Maranzano. During the 1960s Banana War there was acting underboss Frank “Frankie T” Mari and acting consigliere Michele “Mikey Adams” Adamo who both disappeared, the infamous killing of boss Carmine “Lilo” Galante.

Gambino: bosses Salvatore “Toto” D’Aquila, Vincent Mangano, Albert “The Executioner” Anastasia, former boss/underboss Francesco “Don Cheech” Scalici, boss Paul “Big Paul” Castellano, and his newly installed underboss, Thomas Bilotti,

Thats all I can think of at the moment….Were there any more who I missed?

What about Frank Cali? Definitely on the admin.

No doubt about it. Frank Cali definitely fits the bill for this thread.

Bonannos
Frank Italiano-Underboss/Consiglieri- killed in 1935. Frank Garofalo was either bumped up or moved to Underboss position. Natale Evola took over Garofalo crew around this time.

Filippo Rappa-Consiglieri killed in 1944 (Disappeared).

Colombos
Salvatore Profaci Srn- Consiglieri died in a freak boating accident in 1954, I dont strongly suspect it was not a boating accident and was connected Sicily. Salvatore is not talked very much, but he had powerful friends and enemies in Sicily compared to his brother Joe.

The Colombos were good in nipping problems in the but before they got out of hand until Joe Profaci underestimated the Gallo brothers.

Genovese
Saverio Pollaccia-Consiglieri Disappeared in 1932 on a trip to Chicago.

Those are ones I can think of that were missed

Good additions...especially the Bonanno guys.

With all the killings that went on in Chicago, they must have a high body count. Capone took over from an old time boss who was killed.

I think the old Luciano/Genovese Family is probably a prime candidate for this particular trophy.

The Capone era in Chicago has to be one of the most violent in history by far. Those fuckers were killing and leaving bodies on the ground every other day it seemed like.

The Chop Shop wars of the 1970's got pretty violent also in regards to the Chicago mob.

No doubt about that.

But the thread is focused on the "leaderships" of Families, per se. Not just gangland killings.

But dating way back to their earliest days, the did have Big Jim Colosimo, the Gennas, Joe Aiello and a few others. So Chicago definitely had their fair share of hierarchy-type killings.

Sal the iron worker for the bonnanos

Sal Montagna is a good add-on.

Oh what about Frankie shots older brother for the colombos? And maybe Frankie Yale albeit this is going back lcn wise

You make a solid point here, SBL.

Michael "The Sweetheart" Abbatemarco was thought to have been one of the earliest leaders, possibly even the "genesis" of the borgata founded in South Brooklyn, that later adopted the name "Profaci."

As for Francesco "Frankie Yale" Ioele, he too hails from that section and was said to have been an associate/partner of Yale.

And many followers and members of their gang later transferred to both the Profaci and Luciano Families.

And no doubt, both these fellas, these leaders, got themselves clipped.

So these are good points you mention.

Nym you could also have clutch hands younger brother who led the early version of the genoveses. The Camorrists killed him didn’t they. This is like 1920 or earlier though so we’re going way back..

Yes. Giuseppe "The Clutch Hand" Peraino. He was another early faction power that morphed into what later became the Profaci clan.