Who was the longest-serving Capo?

[JoelTurner]

I was wondering who served as capo for the longest amount of time.

In the NYC area, I would guess Rocco Pellegrino or Joe Traina . Both of them were important figures fairly early on; even if we give them a starting point of 1931, they would have been captains for well over 40-years.

I think someone in a smaller family could have held the rank for a longer period of time because of less competition. I’d exclude anyone who was de jure capo but is/was incarcerated for most of their tenure

[JoePuzzles234]

Los Angeles member Joseph Adamo became the San Diego captain in 1958 and the FBI were listing him in the position as late as 1993 - though it is very likely he was replaced by John Aquilante at some point in the mid-1980s (OCCC & Gallo both ID him as such)

[Eline2015]

Joe Arcuri

[motorfab]

Vic Cotroni in Montreal, capo circa 1960 until his death in 1984. Even if for around ten years he took a back seat, that's almost 24 years at the head of a decina

[Pogo The Clown]

If he still holds the spot Nick Corozzo would be a good modern example. Capo since 1992.


Pogo

[Adam]

Scoops Licata's history gets complicated, but didn't he become an acting capo in 1986? His status seems to change over time, but that's still pretty impressive.

[quadtree]

There is little reliable data, but according to my estimates, these captains hold the record for longest tenure.
Rocco Pellegrino (Genovese Family) - 1920s?/1931-mid 1970s, ~40-50 years;
Giuseppe Traina (Gambino family) - 1900s?-1912?, 1931?-early 1970s, ~45 years old;
Ruggiero Boiardo (Genovese family) - late 1940s-1984, ~45 years old;
Gaetano Greco (Genovese family) - 1930/1931-1974, 43-44 years old;
Joseph Massei (Detroit family) - early 1930s-early 1970s (captain in Florida), ~40 years old;
Pasquale Conte (Gambino Family) - 1950s?-1994, ~40 years old;
Matthew Ianniello (Genovese family) - 1974-2012, 38 years old;
Joseph La Ratro (Lucchese family) - 1950s?-late 1980s, ~35 years old;
Joseph Arcuri (Gambino family) - early 1970s-2007?, ~35 years old;
Joseph Paterno (Gambino family) - 1956-1988, 32 years old;
Ettore Zappi (Gambino family) - 1950s?-1986, ~30 years old;
Peter De Feo (Genovese Family) -- 1957-late 1980s, ~30 years;
Diego Amodeo (Gambino family) - 1950s?-1979, ~30 years old;
Among the living record holders are Nicholas Corozzo (Gambino family, 32 years old) and Pasquale Parrello (Genovese family, ~32 years old).
There are more controversial examples. It is unknown when they became capodecines, so their tenure may be much shorter.
Vincenzo Generosa (Genovese family) - 1920s?-mid 1970s, ~50 years?;
Salvatore Curiale (Lucchese family) - 1920s?-early 1960s?, ~40 years?;
Nicolo Alfano (Bonanno Family) -- 1930s?-1970s?, ~40 years?;
Giovanni Oddo (Colombo Family) - 1930s?-1973, ~40 years?;
Salvatore Musacchio (Colombo Family) - 1940s?-1972, ~30 years?;
Enrico Fontana (Colombo Family) - 1940s?-1971, ~30 years?;
Generoso DelDuca (Genovese family) - 1930s?-1960, ~30 years? (if there was no consigliere);
One of the possible record holders was Vincent Alo. I have seen a statement that he was captain until 2001. If he became captain in the 1940s, his 60 years in the position makes him the absolute record holder. But we don’t know exactly when he became captain and when exactly he stopped being captain.

[quadtree]

Michael Coppola, Anthony Strollo, and Anthony Carfano were also captains for 30 years. As you can see, the Genovese family is most inclined towards long-term captains. Next comes the Gambinos, then the Colombo and Lucchese families. It is more difficult to be a long-serving captain in the Bonanno family.

Also worth mentioning:
James Failla (captain of the Gambino family 1967-1999) - 32 years, but spent part of this time in prison);
Giovanni Gambino (captain of the Gambino family 1986-2017) - 31 years old, but spent part of the term in prison;
Damiano Marino (captain of the Gambino family 1986-present?) - 38 years old; possible living record holder; I’m not sure that he was a captain all this time; he spent part of his time in prison);
Salvatore Cufari (captain of the Genovese family 1940s?-1983) - ~40 years old?;
Genovese heavyweights Dominic Cirillo, Lawrence Dentico, Mario Gigante, John Ardito, Alan Longo, John Barbato, Anthony Federici, Rosario Gangi could also be captains for over 30 years each, but due to the secretiveness of the Westside, this is not a fact.

[chin_gigante]

Vic Cotroni in Montreal, capo circa 1960 until his death in 1984. Even if for around ten years he took a back seat, that's almost 24 years at the head of a decina

Didn't Massino testify that Sciascia was captain of that decina by 1981? I recall him saying Sciascia was among the captains who voted to make Sally Ferrugia acting boss, and then (after the three captains murders), Massino and Sciascia were on a panel helping Ferrugia run the family.

[chin_gigante]

Scoops Licata's history gets complicated, but didn't he become an acting capo in 1986? His status seems to change over time, but that's still pretty impressive.

Licata was made an acting captain in 1988. Not sure when he became official but it looks like it was somewhere in the early 1990s. And since he was made official he has held that position ever since, even when he was in prison. Peter Caprio testified that Natale and Merlino wanted to break Licata in the late 1990s, but he (Caprio) talked them out of it. So Licata has had a captain position (while acting at first) for over 35 years.

[quadtree]

A few more examples of long-reigning captains.

In the Bonanno family. Gaspare DiGregorio was captain for 34 years, Biagio Restivo, Giuseppe Grimaldi, may also have been captains for 30 years each. How long has Natale Evola been captain?

In the Lucchese family. Paul Vario may have been a captain for nearly 30 years, but he spent some of that time in prison. Joseph Rosato could have been captain for a long time, but alas, even after re-reading Valachi’s memoirs, I cannot determine the length of his tenure. Giuseppe Lucchese was captain for a very long time, but I'm not sure of the exact time frame. Giuseppe Abate could have been captain for a very long time, maybe 20, 30, or even more. But little is known about the early history of the Lucchese family's Jersey crew, so it's all pure fantasy. Paolo LoDuca has been captain for many years (since the mid-1990s?), but I don't know the exact dates.

Joseph "Joe Desi" DeSimone is still captain of Bonanno, does anyone know when he was promoted to captain?

[Juice Terry]

How long was Thomas Gambino a capo?

[quadtree]

How long was Thomas Gambino a capo?

About 20 years. From 1981 to the early 2000s.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Great info quad.

[motorfab]

Vic Cotroni in Montreal, capo circa 1960 until his death in 1984. Even if for around ten years he took a back seat, that's almost 24 years at the head of a decina

Didn't Massino testify that Sciascia was captain of that decina by 1981? I recall him saying Sciascia was among the captains who voted to make Sally Ferrugia acting boss, and then (after the three captains murders), Massino and Sciascia were on a panel helping Ferrugia run the family.

I'm not sure whether Sciascia was officially capo before Cotroni's death. Perhaps he was acting in 1981? Although he was the official capo, Cotroni was largely retired since the early 1970s anyway