Made guys?

[B.]

Here's one for this topic:

Nicholas Zapprana - Identified as a Bonanno soldier on the Valachi chart (no photo). Haven't been able to find any references to him anywhere else or name variations that would fit. Weird that he would be included considering how few Bonanno soldiers are on this chart, but the chart includes a few non-Bonannos so it could be a mistake. The other mistakes are at least easy to identify unlike Zapprana.

It´s most likely a reference to Zaffarano.

Hadn't thought of him. If that's the case they didn't get his first or last name right, though I could see Nicholas = Nicky = Mickey = Michael, and Zapprana = Zaffarano, just surprising they would make such a big mistake naming someone on that chart.

[Bruno187]

I remember Nookie as a young boy growing up there...to my knowledge he wasn't a made guy, but was an earner and accorded a lot of respect. I would have thought he was dead by 1980 though. Very sharp dresser and always had a big cigar going.
There are quite a few lesser known Gambino guys from the 187th Street area that were "semi-retired" as they got their buttons from Scalise and were allowed to remain alive, but never really made any waves. They were respected within the neighborhood by civilians but not so much from the other made guys.

[HairyKnuckles]

I remember Nookie as a young boy growing up there...to my knowledge he wasn't a made guy, but was an earner and accorded a lot of respect. I would have thought he was dead by 1980 though. Very sharp dresser and always had a big cigar going.
There are quite a few lesser known Gambino guys from the 187th Street area that were "semi-retired" as they got their buttons from Scalise and were allowed to remain alive, but never really made any waves. They were respected within the neighborhood by civilians but not so much from the other made guys.

Interesting. Thanks Bruno. Do you happen to know Nookie´s last name?

[Bruno187]

Unfortunately I don't HK....as a matter of fact I don't even know his first name. I'm pretty sure Nookie was just a nickname. My old man is gone a while, otherwise I would've asked him. He would've known right away.
There was a little barber shop on Belmont Avenue and 186th street, and I remember as a kid he would stop in every Saturday morning to get a shave and trim. This was early 70's and the reason I remember it was he would stink the place to high hell with his stogies. Funny the things you remember when prodded just a little.

[Raven]

I know this post is old as hell but was this Nookie's last name Sigiguano possibly?

I was looking at some MF stuff and saw the name Nookie under possible Gambino members and remembered reading this post about a Nookie.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 8&tab=page

[B.]

I know this post is old as hell but was this Nookie's last name Sigiguano possibly?

I was looking at some MF stuff and saw the name Nookie under possible Gambino members and remembered reading this post about a Nookie.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 8&tab=page

Looking at some of the other names on that list, "Boston" is probably the same as "Andy Boston", who we were able to identify as Andy Parillo, an obscure Brooklyn Gambino soldier who previously lived in Rhode Island as a Patriarca associate and maintained a very close relationship to Ray Patriarca.

"Larry Pisoni" could be Larry Pistone.

Though it's a Gambino list, "Funzwa" might be a reference to Funzie Tieri, who was called variations of "Funzwal" and "Funzwal/Funzual". Never heard of anyone else using that particular pronunciation.

[bronx]

Cologero licastri was with traina

[bronx]

B. you are correct it is tieri

[HairyKnuckles]

Matty latoor is probably matty The horse ianniello.

[B.]

Here's one for this topic:

Nicholas Zapprana - Identified as a Bonanno soldier on the Valachi chart (no photo). Haven't been able to find any references to him anywhere else or name variations that would fit. Weird that he would be included considering how few Bonanno soldiers are on this chart, but the chart includes a few non-Bonannos so it could be a mistake. The other mistakes are at least easy to identify unlike Zapprana.

It´s most likely a reference to Zaffarano.

Hadn't thought of him. If that's the case they didn't get his first or last name right, though I could see Nicholas = Nicky = Mickey = Michael, and Zapprana = Zaffarano, just surprising they would make such a big mistake naming someone on that chart.

I saw another FBI report that lists a Nick Zaparana as a Bonanno soldier during this period. There are a number of mistakes on the list and Zaffarano isn't listed, so it could still be a reference to him, but it's interesting we have two different references to this Nick Zaparana/Zapprana.

Also, on this topic, any idea who James Lucchese is? He shows up as a made Lucchese member on at least one list alongside Joseph Lucchese, so it's likely not in reference to him.

[TwoPiece]

I know this post is old as hell but was this Nookie's last name Sigiguano possibly?

I was looking at some MF stuff and saw the name Nookie under possible Gambino members and remembered reading this post about a Nookie.

https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.htm ... 8&tab=page

Looking at some of the other names on that list, "Boston" is probably the same as "Andy Boston", who we were able to identify as Andy Parillo, an obscure Brooklyn Gambino soldier who previously lived in Rhode Island as a Patriarca associate and maintained a very close relationship to Ray Patriarca.

"Larry Pisoni" could be Larry Pistone.

Though it's a Gambino list, "Funzwa" might be a reference to Funzie Tieri, who was called variations of "Funzwal" and "Funzwal/Funzual". Never heard of anyone else using that particular pronunciation.

Wonder if Andy Parillo is related to Tony Parillo, current NE guy who may or may not be made?

[B.]

Couple of names that show up on the FBI's dead list I'm curious about:

- Leonard Genna (b. 7/30/1902). Listed as "BONANNO MAFIA", with no DOD given. A possible listing has Genna born 7/2/1902 and dying on Long Island in 1987, presumably in Amityville where he had lived for many years after leaving Brooklyn. His daughter would marry Bonanno member Sereno Tartamella. A future member of the Bonanno family would be James Genna, who had a brother named Leonard (b.1928) that married a Bonventre. The father of these two was Vincenzo Genna who came from Castellammare and lived on Roebling st. in Williamsburg, where he was listed as an unemployed longshoreman, and later moved to Middle Village. Seems possible these Gennas are related to the Leonard Genna from the dead list.

- Joseph A. Marino (d. 9/1986). Marino is specifically ID'd as a "Bonanno soldier". Found a guy who was born in 1913 and lived in Queens, died 9/1986. Anyone ever heard of him?

[HairyKnuckles]

Couple of names that show up on the FBI's dead list I'm curious about:

- Leonard Genna (b. 7/30/1902). Listed as "BONANNO MAFIA", with no DOD given. A possible listing has Genna born 7/2/1902 and dying on Long Island in 1987, presumably in Amityville where he had lived for many years after leaving Brooklyn. His daughter would marry Bonanno member Sereno Tartamella. A future member of the Bonanno family would be James Genna, who had a brother named Leonard (b.1928) that married a Bonventre. The father of these two was Vincenzo Genna who came from Castellammare and lived on Roebling st. in Williamsburg, where he was listed as an unemployed longshoreman, and later moved to Middle Village. Seems possible these Gennas are related to the Leonard Genna from the dead list.

- Joseph A. Marino (d. 9/1986). Marino is specifically ID'd as a "Bonanno soldier". Found a guy who was born in 1913 and lived in Queens, died 9/1986. Anyone ever heard of him?

Some of the names listed on those FBI dead lists are tricky. Some names are misspelled, some dates are incorrect and some are listed with the wrong Family. I don´t think the FOIA people go through the files of those listed and correct the errors. So it is a pain in the but trying to figure out who they are.

Joseph A. Marino is probably the one JD identified as Joe "Pepe" Marino, who was made Oct 31st 1977 and put under Pollastrino and later under Trinchera. He indeed died in 1986. So the info on him on the list seems to be correct.

In my own notes, I have Leonard Genna as a suspected Bonanno member. I don´t think he shows up on any FBI lists on made members though. Thanks B for the additional info!

[B.]

I forgot about Pepe Marino -- thanks for that.

Those dead lists can be quite a mess for sure. Sometimes it will even list multiple affiliations for the same guy, i.e. "LCN - Bonanno, DeCavalcante". Great starting point for research, though.

Genna does fit the mold for an early Bonanno member based on the connections we know. Would be curious if Leonard (b. 1902) and Vincenzo (b.1895/1896) were brothers since Vincenzo named one of his sons Leonard. Also wondering if Vincenzo was connected to the life at all given that one son married a Bonventre and his other son became a Bonanno member. Listing himself as an unemployed longshoreman circa WWII raises a red flag with me as well. These are the type of lesser-known guys I imagine filled out the ranks in the early days.

[Frank]

Was he related to the Chicago Genna's