Eugene Smaldone died

[chin_gigante]

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/de ... d=38867973

10/11/1930 - 01/23/2023

Eugene was born in Denver, CO to parents, Clyde and Mildred Smaldone. Survived by his wife, Linda, children, Debra (Brian) Baumann, Linda Walden, Paula (Mark) Valente, Suzi (Phil) Basile, stepdaughter Desiree (Padraic) McCracken, brother, Charles Smaldone. Preceded in death by; Jean Smaldone, Mary Smaldone.

[Antiliar]

And apparently the Denver/Pueblo LCN officially dies with him.

[JoePuzzles234]

The family probably really died activity wise with Villano in 2003 (per Gallo, who identified him as being involved with a hotel, seemingly along with the LA mob) and then officially with Clarence Smaldone, who died in 2006.

It seems more likely to me that Villano was the redacted name on the 1993 membership list, given that Gene Smaldone helped with the book about his family and all

Here is another photo of Gene Smaldone, from the book:

gene smaldone.png

[Newyorkempire]

Was this family made into La Cosa Nostra or essentially self appointed?

[OcSleeper]

If you're asking if they were a recognized family the answer is yes.

[Ivan]

And apparently the Denver/Pueblo LCN officially dies with him.

Hunh. I was under the impression that their last made guy croaked in about 1990, and every "Smaldone" born after like 1920 was a civilian. Looked it up just now and they lasted a little longer than that it seems. I figured they had been one of the first families to go.

[B.]

Lew Fratto knew them personally and they were partners in Denver rackets but he said they weren't made members circa 1967. However Jimmy Fratianno had told Bomp the Smaldones were members earlier on and in 1969 Bomp was told by the Family's only capodecina Scotty Spinuzzi that the Smaldones were among the few remaining members.

In 1974 when Spinuzzi was boss, Joe Salardino told Bomp that Chauncey Smaldone was a capodecina. In 1985 the FBI carried Eugene as boss, Chauncey as underboss, and Paul Villano as consigliere but I don't know if this admin was nationally recognized.

[Guest]

Lew Fratto knew them personally and they were partners in Denver rackets but he said they weren't made members circa 1967. However Jimmy Fratianno had told Bomp the Smaldones were members earlier on and in 1969 Bomp was told by the Family's only capodecina Scotty Spinuzzi that the Smaldones were among the few remaining members.

In 1974 when Spinuzzi was boss, Joe Salardino told Bomp that Chauncey Smaldone was a capodecina. In 1985 the FBI carried Eugene as boss, Chauncey as underboss, and Paul Villano as consigliere but I don't know if this admin was nationally recognized.

Who would have made them then??

[B.]

Lew Fratto knew them personally and they were partners in Denver rackets but he said they weren't made members circa 1967. However Jimmy Fratianno had told Bomp the Smaldones were members earlier on and in 1969 Bomp was told by the Family's only capodecina Scotty Spinuzzi that the Smaldones were among the few remaining members.

In 1974 when Spinuzzi was boss, Joe Salardino told Bomp that Chauncey Smaldone was a capodecina. In 1985 the FBI carried Eugene as boss, Chauncey as underboss, and Paul Villano as consigliere but I don't know if this admin was nationally recognized.

Who would have made them then??

I'd guess they were sponsored by Joe Salardino who was the former underboss as Fratto said they were under Salardino. I don't know if they were made after 1967 when Fratto said they weren't members or just didn't know, but Fratto worked directly with the Smaldones and they visited him in Iowa so should have known if they were made.

In early 1969, Spinuzzi told Bomp that Jim Colletti was still boss but completely retired and had severed all contact with other Families. The entire Family was reporting to Spinuzzi.

The few members wanted to vote Colletti out in favor of Spinuzzi so Bomp encouraged the Family to hold a meeting where they'd do that and elect Spinuzzi. This did happen later in 1969 after the meeting. Spinuzzi was apparently planning to induct his nephew after he became boss (not sure this happened) so he may have made a few others but at least some of the Smaldones were said to be be members while Colletti was boss in early 1969.

In 1974 the known hierarchy was:

Boss - Scotty Spinuzzi
Underboss - ?
Consigliere - Gus Salardino
Capodecina - Chauncey Smaldone

Maybe Eugene was the underboss given he gets ID'd as boss a decade later and outranked Chauncey.

[B.]

I recommend the book about Clyde Smaldone. It was written using taped interviews Clyde's son did with his father. There's zero inside organizational info but it's a great read.

Clyde had a falling out with his brother Eugene and never showed up as one of the post-Colletti leaders.

The Eugene who just died is Clyde's son, not the brother.

[Pmac2]

Outfit membah

[Patrickgold]

Interesting that in the obit comments there are a lot of mentions of him being a coach at a high school so he had a legit job. Was he the one with the deformed hand? Has it been confirmed that he was in fact made?

Regarding the last boss, it was Villano who was recognized as the boss by other bosses even into the early 2000s. Kenji Gallo talked about him before saying he was recognized as the boss when he was active into the 90s. I forget the background of his connection to Villano. If anyone remembers please post. Clyde was not active after he got out of prison in the 1960s. Eugene and Clarence were at least into the 90s.

[B.]

Never seen this Eugene ID'd as a member, only his uncle of the same name.

[Newyorkempire]

This article claims they were dead by the 80s but were just alleged to have committed a murder in the 70s. Not sure if its been posted before on here.

https://www.flagshippublishing.com/prin ... dex/id/128

[Newyorkempire]

Lew Fratto knew them personally and they were partners in Denver rackets but he said they weren't made members circa 1967. However Jimmy Fratianno had told Bomp the Smaldones were members earlier on and in 1969 Bomp was told by the Family's only capodecina Scotty Spinuzzi that the Smaldones were among the few remaining members.

In 1974 when Spinuzzi was boss, Joe Salardino told Bomp that Chauncey Smaldone was a capodecina. In 1985 the FBI carried Eugene as boss, Chauncey as underboss, and Paul Villano as consigliere but I don't know if this admin was nationally recognized.

Who would have made them then??

I'd guess they were sponsored by Joe Salardino who was the former underboss as Fratto said they were under Salardino. I don't know if they were made after 1967 when Fratto said they weren't members or just didn't know, but Fratto worked directly with the Smaldones and they visited him in Iowa so should have known if they were made.

In early 1969, Spinuzzi told Bomp that Jim Colletti was still boss but completely retired and had severed all contact with other Families. The entire Family was reporting to Spinuzzi.

The few members wanted to vote Colletti out in favor of Spinuzzi so Bomp encouraged the Family to hold a meeting where they'd do that and elect Spinuzzi. This did happen later in 1969 after the meeting. Spinuzzi was apparently planning to induct his nephew after he became boss (not sure this happened) so he may have made a few others but at least some of the Smaldones were said to be be members while Colletti was boss in early 1969.

In 1974 the known hierarchy was:

Boss - Scotty Spinuzzi
Underboss - ?
Consigliere - Gus Salardino
Capodecina - Chauncey Smaldone

Maybe Eugene was the underboss given he gets ID'd as boss a decade later and outranked Chauncey.

Great stuff