Bosses who accepted a lower rank in the family

[Angelo Santino]

In regards to Morello, the family split after he was released. He told then-boss Salvatore Loiacano to step down, he didn't and was killed. This lead to the 1921-3 war. D'Aquila as BOB wasn't happy with Morello fucking with the status quo. D'Aquila issued a death warrant against Morello. Some guys stayed loyal to Morello, others toed the D'Aquila line and the Luccheses came out of that. Morello was hiding out and Masseria became the boss of his loyal faction.

Either it was later agreed that Morello could live but not be boss, which explains Masseria's position. Or there remained a cold war throughout the 20's with the Genoveses being outsiders, the problem with the latter is that Morello and Reina remained on good terms and were in business by 1923, so if there was a veto against Morello still, Reina would have been breaking a D'Aquila edict. I don't think it's the latter but I don't know. Whatever the case, Masseria had D'Aquila killed in 1928 so...

Orlando and DiGaetano stepped down in the Bonannos but remained involved.

Frank Amato out of Pittsburgh. Some Chicago guys as well.

The term people coined them is "emeritus" but I believe that's an outsider term. The Mafia was never meant to be "large government," it had a very simple and easy hierarchy which meant alot of people could operate in a capacity that fell outside of the traditional structure. It's changed over time, with law enforcement becoming more aggressive, bosses stopped meeting with lower members, but back in the early 10's, if you were a member, you got facetime. Very much like the smaller Families outside of NY well into the 80's and 90's in some cities.

[B.]

In regards to Morello, the family split after he was released. He told then-boss Salvatore Loiacano to step down, he didn't and was killed. This lead to the 1921-3 war. D'Aquila as BOB wasn't happy with Morello fucking with the status quo. D'Aquila issued a death warrant against Morello. Some guys stayed loyal to Morello, others toed the D'Aquila line and the Luccheses came out of that. Morello was hiding out and Masseria became the boss of his loyal faction.

That's cool you've finally been able to come up with the specifics for how the two families split. It seems significant that 1923 was when Masseria was sneaking guys into the "combaneesh". Seems they were trying hard to build up their forces after the split and did a good job of it by going after younger Neapolitans, among other people (Luciano, Costello, etc.)

In Sicily it is/was more common for bosses to step down. I think it's Calderone who talks about this happening, but not sure if that was just during his time or if it had been like that from earlier times. I wonder if the pre-1910 US families were operating more with that mindset too and that it wasn't until later that the idea of being a boss for decades came into play.

[SonnyBlackstein]

My thanks to Pogo and Bronx.

@ Bronx: You mention the 2nd oldest ongoing crew. Is that in all of LCN or were you still referring to Rochester? And who is the oldest?

Cheers.

[Antiliar]

I noticed that Maranzano was mentioned, but what wasn't mentioned (or I didn't see it) was that Maranzano stepped down as a boss when he came to America. In Sicily he was the provincial boss (closest thing to a "boss of bosses" in Sicily) for the province of Trapani. When he came to American he was a soldier under Schiro. When Morello, Lupo and others came to Sicily to have D'Aquila's death penalty removed, one of the people they met with in Palermo was Maranzano.

[johnny_scootch]

My thanks to Pogo and Bronx.

@ Bronx: You mention the 2nd oldest ongoing crew. Is that in all of LCN or were you still referring to Rochester? And who is the oldest?

Cheers.

He was referring to Joe Traina's crew of the Gambino Family. I'd love to know the oldest also...do tell.

[bronx]

In regards to Morello, the family split after he was released. He told then-boss Salvatore Loiacano to step down, he didn't and was killed. This lead to the 1921-3 war. D'Aquila as BOB wasn't happy with Morello fucking with the status quo. D'Aquila issued a death warrant against Morello. Some guys stayed loyal to Morello, others toed the D'Aquila line and the Luccheses came out of that. Morello was hiding out and Masseria became the boss of his loyal faction.

Either it was later agreed that Morello could live but not be boss, which explains Masseria's position. Or there remained a cold war throughout the 20's with the Genoveses being outsiders, the problem with the latter is that Morello and Reina remained on good terms and were in business by 1923, so if there was a veto against Morello still, Reina would have been breaking a D'Aquila edict. I don't think it's the latter but I don't know. Whatever the case, Masseria had D'Aquila killed in 1928 so...

Orlando and DiGaetano stepped down in the Bonannos but remained involved.

Frank Amato out of Pittsburgh. Some Chicago guys as well.

The term people coined them is "emeritus" but I believe that's an outsider term. The Mafia was never meant to be "large government," it had a very simple and easy hierarchy which meant alot of people could operate in a capacity that fell outside of the traditional structure. It's changed over time, with law enforcement becoming more aggressive, bosses stopped meeting with lower members, but back in the early 10's, if you were a member, you got facetime. Very much like the smaller Families outside of NY well into the 80's and 90's in some cities.

CHRIS, i lean towards the "cold war" the daquila faction was not accepting anything but full control.the murders never really stopped..great input Chris

[bronx]

jack damico's is the oldest.

[B.]

I noticed that Maranzano was mentioned, but what wasn't mentioned (or I didn't see it) was that Maranzano stepped down as a boss when he came to America. In Sicily he was the provincial boss (closest thing to a "boss of bosses" in Sicily) for the province of Trapani. When he came to American he was a soldier under Schiro. When Morello, Lupo and others came to Sicily to have D'Aquila's death penalty removed, one of the people they met with in Palermo was Maranzano.

Ah yeah, that's right. Is there anyone else who stepped down from a ranking position in Sicily when they joined a US family? Or how about high-ranking Sicilians who continued to have an equal or higher ranking position when they moved to the US? I am sure there were some I just can't think of any.

Nick Gentile is another one who could be on this list. He was a boss at one point, but he bounced around so many different families/places it's not like he ever really became a subordinate in the same family.

[HairyKnuckles]

Thanks for the responses. Was Costello actually active in the years after he stepped down?

I doubt he was active but must have received income from fully legit enterprises/businesses he had a stake in.

[Hailbritain]

Frank lastorino and anellio migliore

[Rocco]

What about john torrio ? Stepped down for Capone? And also Bill Clinton who stepped down for Hillary Clinton? Oh wait that's another topic all together....

[bronx]

LOL.

[jimmyb]

I noticed that Maranzano was mentioned, but what wasn't mentioned (or I didn't see it) was that Maranzano stepped down as a boss when he came to America. In Sicily he was the provincial boss (closest thing to a "boss of bosses" in Sicily) for the province of Trapani. When he came to American he was a soldier under Schiro. When Morello, Lupo and others came to Sicily to have D'Aquila's death penalty removed, one of the people they met with in Palermo was Maranzano.

Ah yeah, that's right. Is there anyone else who stepped down from a ranking position in Sicily when they joined a US family? Or how about high-ranking Sicilians who continued to have an equal or higher ranking position when they moved to the US? I am sure there were some I just can't think of any.

Nick Gentile is another one who could be on this list. He was a boss at one point, but he bounced around so many different families/places it's not like he ever really became a subordinate in the same family.

Gaspare Magaddino was the boss in CDG, but in NY seems he was a common hit-man for Bonanno. Toto Minore was the boss of Trapani, but lived in NJ for a long time. At one point I think he was running a pizza joint. Not sure if he even owned it, I think he just managed it. Calderone said Minore lived on hard times while in the US. Minore was still active though, worked with Jersey Sicilians like Onofrio Abate and Settimo Accardo. Also worked with Joe Buccellato from Brooklyn.

[jimmyb]

I know this gets away from your original question B., but Salvatore Vitale was the sotocapo in Partinico, but active in Detroit organization (and San Diego). Meanwhile, his arch nemesis Frank Coppola was a Detroit solider, who became the de facto boss of Partinico. I don't think he was ever the official capomafia there, but everyone knew he was the primary shot-caller.

[B.]

Frank lastorino and anellio migliore

Neither of them were bosses, though. This topic is really just for official bosses.

Gaspare Magaddino was the boss in CDG, but in NY seems he was a common hit-man for Bonanno. Toto Minore was the boss of Trapani, but lived in NJ for a long time. At one point I think he was running a pizza joint. Not sure if he even owned it, I think he just managed it. Calderone said Minore lived on hard times while in the US. Minore was still active though, worked with Jersey Sicilians like Onofrio Abate and Settimo Accardo. Also worked with Joe Buccellato from Brooklyn.

I'm under the impression that Magaddino didn't necessarily become a subordinate of Bonanno, but became involved due to his own feelings/interests and possibly the influence of his brother Peter. Still pretty crazy that a boss would travel overseas and personally carry out hits, especially being an older overweight guy.

Toto Minore was a relative of Salvatore Maranzano's wife, right? Thanks for the info, never really knew about him.