JoelTurner wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 5:44 pm
Morale Crew
VITO LICAVOLI
(Willie Rex)
DOB: May 21 1904
POB: Terrasini, Palermo, Sicily
F: Vincenzo Licavoli
M: Paola “Pauline” Carollo
Occupation: Owner - Rex Tavern (174 Humboldt St, Brooklyn, NY)
Address: 196 Johnson Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Prior addresses: 143 Humboldt St, Brooklyn, NY
Death: Sep 1974
Both Licavoli & Carollo were surnames shared by important Terrasini mobsters, however they were mostly in the Midwest, especially Detroit. TBH, I can’t think of any notable figures from there in the NYC area.
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There were a couple Terrasinesi with the Gambino Family, Battista Balsamo and Ignatius Crachiola. The Balsamos' true surname was Cracchiolo and it's likely the Crachiolas' name was originally spelled that way, Battista's father name being Ignazio as well, so maybe there was a relation.
Balsamo isn't to be confused with the much older Giuseppe "Battista" Balsamo, whose grandson wrote a book claiming the grandfather founded the Gambino Family. That Balsamo may have been from Terrasini as well though.
In general though, no, Terrasini doesn't surface in NYC much at all. Vito Licavoli's Bonanno membership does bring to mind the overlapping Detroit/Bonanno networks.
JoelTurner wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 5:44 pm
Morale Crew
VITO LICAVOLI
(Willie Rex)
DOB: May 21 1904
POB: Terrasini, Palermo, Sicily
F: Vincenzo Licavoli
M: Paola “Pauline” Carollo
Occupation: Owner - Rex Tavern (174 Humboldt St, Brooklyn, NY)
Address: 196 Johnson Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Prior addresses: 143 Humboldt St, Brooklyn, NY
Death: Sep 1974
Both Licavoli & Carollo were surnames shared by important Terrasini mobsters, however they were mostly in the Midwest, especially Detroit. TBH, I can’t think of any notable figures from there in the NYC area.
————
There were a couple Terrasinesi with the Gambino Family, Battista Balsamo and Ignatius Crachiola. The Balsamos' true surname was Cracchiolo and it's likely the Crachiolas' name was originally spelled that way, Battista's father name being Ignazio as well, so maybe there was a relation.
Balsamo isn't to be confused with the much older Giuseppe "Battista" Balsamo, whose grandson wrote a book claiming the grandfather founded the Gambino Family. That Balsamo may have been from Terrasini as well though.
In general though, no, Terrasini doesn't surface in NYC much at all. Vito Licavoli's Bonanno membership does bring to mind the overlapping Detroit/Bonanno networks.
Speaking of the overlapping Bonanno/Detroit connections, has anyone ever flushed out the connection between Antonio "Papa Tony" Mirabile, who started on Detroit but transfered to the L.A. Family and Joe Bonanno? I dobknow that even today there are some Bonventre's in San Diego where Mirabile operated. There is a couple photos of Bonanno and Mirabile which l think lends to a strong association especially considering "on paper", even within the mafia, the are a world apart. Where there's smoke, there's fire.
Wasn’t Sylvester Carollo(a), New Orleans boss, from Terrasini as well. Wonder if there was a relation with Carollo on this Vito Licavolis’ mother side as well.
Here's an article from 1920 on member Thomas Scardino. It includes info not referenced in the LCNbios article but the address and round-a-bout age match the article. Apparently, Scardino defrauded some business associates then fled to Italy.
