Facts about Frank Cali (pre-murder)

[Eld]

- The LoVerdes, previously described as Cali's business partners and top legitimate associates, did constant business with Gambino capodecina Carmine Sciandra's Top Tomato stores. Sciandra was a member of Tommy Gambino's crew and Sciandra's father Gandolfo "Buddy" was described in 1960s FBI reports as a cousin of Carlo Gambino in addition to being Gambino's driver and close associate. I have never been able to substantiate the Sciandra and Gambino relation. Buddy Sciandra's father Carmelo (namesake of Carmine) was from Montedoro, like the Sciandras of the Bufalino family. It looks like Buddy's mother was an Albanese from Polizzi, Sicily, which is in Palermo province but not near Carlo Gambino's origins.

Buddy Sciandra married one daughter of Salvatore Guglielmini and Peter Castellana (Big Paul's cousin) married another. And Salvatore Guglielmini's son Frank married a Castellano woman, possibly a from the Castellano/Gambino clan.

[B.]

- The LoVerdes, previously described as Cali's business partners and top legitimate associates, did constant business with Gambino capodecina Carmine Sciandra's Top Tomato stores. Sciandra was a member of Tommy Gambino's crew and Sciandra's father Gandolfo "Buddy" was described in 1960s FBI reports as a cousin of Carlo Gambino in addition to being Gambino's driver and close associate. I have never been able to substantiate the Sciandra and Gambino relation. Buddy Sciandra's father Carmelo (namesake of Carmine) was from Montedoro, like the Sciandras of the Bufalino family. It looks like Buddy's mother was an Albanese from Polizzi, Sicily, which is in Palermo province but not near Carlo Gambino's origins.

Buddy Sciandra married one daughter of Salvatore Guglielmini and Peter Castellana (Big Paul's cousin) married another. And Salvatore Guglielmini's son Frank married a Castellano woman, possibly a from the Castellano/Gambino clan.

Thanks, Eld. That could very well explain the so-called "cousin" relationship. We know of mafia members from Montedoro in PA and Buffalo, though I've never seen any in NYC. I'd be curious if Carmelo Sciandra was involved with the early Gambino family, as his age would have put him under the radar by the time most sources came around. Buddy Sciandra was listed as a possible member by the FBI in the 1960s and the NYPD had him as a soldier on their wall chart, but I don't believe he was ever made despite his close relationship to Gambino, involvement in crime, and son's membership.

[bronx]

B. you are correct buddy was never made..speaks volumes

[AlexfromSouth]

B. you are correct buddy was never made..speaks volumes

Why was he never made?

[bronx]

carlo ,then paul did not see him as material to be in the life.

[FriendofFamily]

At some point I may merge this topic in with the Big Frank Cali Thread

[Snakes]

I wouldn't, only because that topic is mostly speculation while this topic has been mostly limited to facts and what we know about Cali. I think lots of valuable info gets lost if we merge it with all of the junk in the other topic.

[Frank]

I know I posted this already, but thought it should be under this topic.

Capeci and his sources still had Cali as Underboss . Also said that he was well liked by his Gambino Family peers and other NYC wiseguys Ending speculation that he was demoted and in the outs with the Sicilian and maybe others in the Family.

[Wiseguy]

I know I posted this already, but thought it should be under this topic.

Capeci and his sources still had Cali as Underboss . Also said that he was well liked by his Gambino Family peers and other NYC wiseguys Ending speculation that he was demoted and in the outs with the Sicilian and maybe others in the Family.

Well, it should end speculation but that doesn't necessarily mean it will.

[Frank]

I know I posted this already, but thought it should be under this topic.

Capeci and his sources still had Cali as Underboss . Also said that he was well liked by his Gambino Family peers and other NYC wiseguys Ending speculation that he was demoted and in the outs with the Sicilian and maybe others in the Family.

Well, it should end speculation but that doesn't necessarily mean it will.

I love speculating, but I like having the at the moment facts even better.

[Lupara]

I know I posted this already, but thought it should be under this topic.

Capeci and his sources still had Cali as Underboss . Also said that he was well liked by his Gambino Family peers and other NYC wiseguys Ending speculation that he was demoted and in the outs with the Sicilian and maybe others in the Family.

Well, it should end speculation but that doesn't necessarily mean it will.

I love speculating, but I like having the at the moment facts even better.

Speculation is there in an attempt to fill in the blanks when there is a lack of facts to explain everything.

When there are enough facts, there is no need to speculate.

But God forbid posters here are going to speculate, because that will surely bring about the demise of this forum. It's blasphemy and people should be punished for it. There is no place for such ignorant fools in heaven.

[B.]

At some point I may merge this topic in with the Big Frank Cali Thread

This topic has nothing to do with his murder and there is good discussion in this thread distinct from that clusterfuck of a thread. As the one who started it, I ask you not to. Thank you.

[DPG]

At some point I may merge this topic in with the Big Frank Cali Thread

This topic has nothing to do with his murder and there is good discussion in this thread distinct from that clusterfuck of a thread. As the one who started it, I ask you not to. Thank you.

I agree.

[Wiseguy]

I know I posted this already, but thought it should be under this topic.

Capeci and his sources still had Cali as Underboss . Also said that he was well liked by his Gambino Family peers and other NYC wiseguys Ending speculation that he was demoted and in the outs with the Sicilian and maybe others in the Family.

Well, it should end speculation but that doesn't necessarily mean it will.

I love speculating, but I like having the at the moment facts even better.

Speculation is there in an attempt to fill in the blanks when there is a lack of facts to explain everything.

When there are enough facts, there is no need to speculate.

But God forbid posters here are going to speculate, because that will surely bring about the demise of this forum. It's blasphemy and people should be punished for it. There is no place for such ignorant fools in heaven.

Agreed. But there's enough facts to verify that Cali was underboss, no? Hence, no need for speculation anymore.

[CabriniGreen]

I wouldn't, only because that topic is mostly speculation while this topic has been mostly limited to facts and what we know about Cali. I think lots of valuable info gets lost if we merge it with all of the junk in the other topic.

All this is in felices post about the sicilians, and most of it is in the Franky Boy articke