"Zio" Nicola Colio, member of the Montreal Bonanno decina

[motorfab]

While consulting several books and articles on Montreal, I came across the name of "Zio" Nicola Colio, who was a member of the Montreal decina.

This character seems to have an important role in the decina of Montreal whether it is among the local members or among the Zips.

-While tensions between Rizzuto & Violi are at their peak in the early 1970s and a series of sit-downs are organized between the two sides, the RCMP who tapped Violi, have captured a conversation between the two, alluding to the fact that Colio advised the Violi not to rush things regarding Rizzuto (probably understand by that, do not make a reckless gesture like shooting him)

-Giuseppe Settecasi & Leonard Caruana would have asked Colio to attend a meeting to explain why he thought so, but for some reason Violi would have refused.

-In October 1973, Violi & Colio would have received John DeMatteo a soldier from Gambino Crime Family, who came to Montreal as a messenger to inform them that the Montreal decina should send an emissary to NY to elect a new boss for the Bonanno Crime Family. Frank Cotroni had to go with Violi but, being under police surveillance it will be Joseph DiMaulo who will go to NY for a preliminary meeting to meet Marangello & Rastelli.

-Violi being also under police surveillance, Zio Colio is considered but Violi tells Pietro Sciara that he is surprised to see that the police know all his movements, and the man who will finally represent the decina of Montreal on February 25, 1974 will be Romeo Bucci.

That's about all I know about this mysterious "Zio" Nicola Colio, and it's largely thanks to a book by our friend Laurentian. Do we have more info on him?

[johnny_scootch]

Nice find.

[OcSleeper]

It seems like who you're talking about is based out of Montreal but would it be possible this person was Nicolo Buttafuoco from NY, I've seen his name spelt both Nicolo & Nicola. In Mafia Inc they mention Natale Evola sent Buttafuoco, Nicolino Alfano, and Michael Zaffarano to Montreal after Violi approached him about Rizzuto.

Buttafuoco was a mentor of sorts to Rizzuto some years earlier when Rizzuto was in New York. And seems to be one of the reasons Violi never got the go ahead on Rizzuto.

Maybe Colio was an alias?

[motorfab]

It seems like who you're talking about is based out of Montreal but would it be possible this person was Nicolo Buttafuoco from NY, I've seen his name spelt both Nicolo & Nicola. In Mafia Inc they mention Natale Evola sent Buttafuoco, Nicolino Alfano, and Michael Zaffarano to Montreal after Violi approached him about Rizzuto.

Buttafuoco was a mentor of sorts to Rizzuto some years earlier when Rizzuto was in New York. And seems to be one of the reasons Violi never got the go ahead on Rizzuto.

Maybe Colio was an alias?

I doubt it. Buttafuoco is largely quoted in the book of Laurentian and the articles of the 70's, so I don't think it's a confusion between the two. But you're right about Buttafuoco he was close to Vito Rizzuto Sr, Nick Rizzuto & Calogero Renda. He was also from Cattolica Eraclea if I'm not mistaken.

I think Colio is just a member almost forgotten today, but I'd love to learn more about him, if it's possible

[Laurentian]

It seems like who you're talking about is based out of Montreal but would it be possible this person was Nicolo Buttafuoco from NY, I've seen his name spelt both Nicolo & Nicola. In Mafia Inc they mention Natale Evola sent Buttafuoco, Nicolino Alfano, and Michael Zaffarano to Montreal after Violi approached him about Rizzuto.

Buttafuoco was a mentor of sorts to Rizzuto some years earlier when Rizzuto was in New York. And seems to be one of the reasons Violi never got the go ahead on Rizzuto.

Maybe Colio was an alias?

I doubt it. Buttafuoco is largely quoted in the book of Laurentian and the articles of the 70's, so I don't think it's a confusion between the two. But you're right about Buttafuoco he was close to Vito Rizzuto Sr, Nick Rizzuto & Calogero Renda. He was also from Cattolica Eraclea if I'm not mistaken.

I think Colio is just a member almost forgotten today, but I'd love to learn more about him, if it's possible

Indeed, Colio was a member of the Montreal decina. Because of his age, many members sought advice or advice from him. However, the criminal intelligence reports that I have been able to access provided very few details. I guess he must have been a very discreet member.

[antimafia]

@motorfab,

Is the article to which I've linked below one of the articles you've already located?

https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine ... io%20Violi

[OcSleeper]

I doubt it. Buttafuoco is largely quoted in the book of Laurentian and the articles of the 70's, so I don't think it's a confusion between the two. But you're right about Buttafuoco he was close to Vito Rizzuto Sr, Nick Rizzuto & Calogero Renda. He was also from Cattolica Eraclea if I'm not mistaken.

I think Colio is just a member almost forgotten today, but I'd love to learn more about him, if it's possible

Ahh yeah just figured I'd put it out there. Not to get off topic but what's the book you're talking about?

[motorfab]

Indeed, Colio was a member of the Montreal decina. Because of his age, many members sought advice or advice from him. However, the criminal intelligence reports that I have been able to access provided very few details. I guess he must have been a very discreet member.

OK, thanks. It is true that the Mafiosi nicknamed "Zio" generally have positions of "wise man" or advisor, so that makes sense. In any case, would you still have the date of his death despite the lack of information on him?

@motorfab,

Is the article to which I've linked below one of the articles you've already located?

https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine ... io%20Violi

Yes I even think it's the only article I found mentioning him. It's funny because I know the article for some time while I was looking for an info on Bucci but I had never paid attention to the name Colio mentioned in it ...

I also saw with a google search his name mentioned in a Canadian book but no way to find it now. I guess it had to say the same thing.

Ahh yeah just figured I'd put it out there. Not to get off topic but what's the book you're talking about?

The book I was talking about is "Cosa Nostra: histoire de la mafia Nord-Américaine" by Pierre de Champlain, but unfortunately I doubt that an English version exists

[B.]

Curious what Colio's heritage is and if his DOB/DOD can be confirmed.

I suspect some members of the Bonanno decina had membership that predates Galante's initial stay in Montreal. The question would be who they were affiliated with. Figures from the Agrigento coast with mafia ties were in Montreal by the 1910s.

[antimafia]

Curious what Colio's heritage is and if his DOB/DOD can be confirmed.

I suspect some members of the Bonanno decina had membership that predates Galante's initial stay in Montreal. The question would be who they were affiliated with. Figures from the Agrigento coast with mafia ties were in Montreal by the 1910s.

Although I think there's uncertainty about whether Nicola's surname is spelled Colio or Collio, the latter is the name of a comune in Lombardia and also a surname commonly found in France. The surname Colio is found among many people who descend from Foggia, in Puglia.

Tony Frank, whose real name was Arcangelo Di Vincenzo, emigrated to Montreal in 1906. Di Vincenzo was born in Bronte, in Catania, in 1877. These details will be found in Pierre de Champlain's Histoire du crime organisé à Montréal de 1900 à 1980. This book and Peter Edwards's Blood Brothers offer, in my opinion, the best information about Di Vincenzo's status and criminal activity. Edwards made the error of writing that Di Vincenzo was born in Sardinia, and Canadian writer Jerry Prager unfortunately has repeated the error in his own books and blog posts.

Di Vincenzo, who was in Montreal before Nick Gentile, ruled over the Italian criminals in the city -- in fact, such criminals had to pay Di Vincenzo a tithe. Di Vincenzo and three others were hanged on October 24, 1924. One of those hanged, an associate of Di Vincenzo, was a Gambino from New York.

[Laurentian]

Curious what Colio's heritage is and if his DOB/DOD can be confirmed.

I suspect some members of the Bonanno decina had membership that predates Galante's initial stay in Montreal. The question would be who they were affiliated with. Figures from the Agrigento coast with mafia ties were in Montreal by the 1910s.

Although I think there's uncertainty about whether Nicola's surname is spelled Colio or Collio, the latter is the name of a comune in Lombardia and also a surname commonly found in France. The surname Colio is found among many people who descend from Foggia, in Puglia.

Tony Frank, whose real name was Arcangelo Di Vincenzo, emigrated to Montreal in 1906. Di Vincenzo was born in Bronte, in Catania, in 1877. These details will be found in Pierre de Champlain's Histoire du crime organisé à Montréal de 1900 à 1980. This book and Peter Edwards's Blood Brothers offer, in my opinion, the best information about Di Vincenzo's status and criminal activity. Edwards made the error of writing that Di Vincenzo was born in Sardinia, and Canadian writer Jerry Prager unfortunately has repeated the error in his own books and blog posts.

Di Vincenzo, who was in Montreal before Nick Gentile, ruled over the Italian criminals in the city -- in fact, such criminals had to pay Di Vincenzo a tithe. Di Vincenzo and three others were hanged on October 24, 1924. One of those hanged, an associate of Di Vincenzo, was a Gambino from New York.

The details on Tony Frank aka Archangelo Di Vincenzo were obtained via Access to Information, re: Immigration.