You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. He headed the Trafficante crime family and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI Donnie Brasco investigation he never spent a single day of his life in jail. There was a problem getting your location. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. We are one of them! But those werent even their most ridiculous ideas. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. A native and lifelong resident of Tampa, Mr. Traffi-cante is survived by his loving family, wife, Geraldine "Gerry" L. Trafficante; sons, Dino Jose and Joseph Frank Trafficante; daughters,. Try again later. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Jo Paniello and Sarah Ann Valdes; her grandchildren, Dr. Santo Paniello and wife Susan; Dina Smith and husband Don; Melissa Castellana and husband John; and Valerie Cordell and husband Ian; her great-grandchildren, Michael Sierra, Elizabeth Paniello, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Christina Castellana, Augie Castellana, Alexa Cordell, Anna Cordell Drew Smith, Allison Hunt and husband Joey; as well as endless extended family. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. We have set your language to Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. Meanwhile, he continued to make money from the drugs that came through Tampa. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Try again later. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Florida mobster who survived a series of vicious gang wars to become the leader of a powerful Mafia crime family based in Tampa. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. He headed the Trafficante crime family and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Reputedly the most powerful crime boss in Batista -era Cuba, he . Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. "[12] Aleman claimed to have reported Trafficante's comments to his FBI contacts, who "dismissed the Kennedy warnings as gangland braggadocio. [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba [14], The HSCA had previously quoted Aleman as stating that he thought Trafficante's use of the phrase "he is going to be hit" meant that the mob boss knew Kennedy was going to be killed. She is now living in Virginia. At 7:25 p.m. on January 3, 1953, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. had just finished dinner with his wife and children at his father-in-laws house in the Ybor City section of Tampa, Florida. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. Trafficante again escaped conviction. [13], On January 14, 1992, Trafficante's former attorney, Frank Ragano, told Jack Newfield of the New York Post that he relayed a request from Hoffa to Trafficante and New Orleans boss Carlos Marcello to have Kennedy killed. "Banks are my greatest enemy. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. Santo Jr., who had inherited the leadership of the Tampa Mafia around 1950 when his father, Santo Sr., fell ill, had now completed his consolidation of power in Tampa and beyond. On March 17, 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72 at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston where he had gone for heart surgery. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. There is a problem with your email/password. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. Mobster dies, two nations. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Sorry! A year has passed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. This is a carousel with slides. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Castellana, Malio Iavarone, FrankCookie Fava, Antonino Marchese, Derek Iavarone, Frank Albano, Drew Smith, Joey Hunt, Michael Sierra, Tony Marchese, Peter Albano, Mario Pullara, Frank Miranda, Dino Trafficante, and Joseph Trafficante. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. He drove a forklift for 20 years. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. Pallbearers are Augie Castellana, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Anthony B. Marchese, Peter Marchese Jr., Ian Cordell, Don Smith, Frank Pancho Trafficante, John Castellana, and Dr. Santo Paniello. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . English After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. It was also rumored that Santos was involved in a Mafia plot to kill President John F. Kennedy, though he denied there was any such conspiracy. It was all on the up and up. Trafficante enjoyed life in Cuba, developed a relationship with its strongman, the dictator Fulgencio Batista, and helped the Trafficante Crime family garner even more profits from its legitimate gambling operations there. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? I found on Findagrave.com. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented ties with powerful Mafia families he had established as a young man in New York, and ruthlessly put down any attempts to usurp his territory or power. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. Santos married Josephine Marchese in 1938, they would have two daughters. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. [21], Trafficante was summoned to court in 1986 and questioned about his involvement with the King's Court Bottle Club operated by members of the Bonanno crime family, including undercover FBI agent Joseph D. "Joe" Pistone, a.k.a. Let others know about your loved one's death. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. Fla. (AP), Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52792202/frank-cacciatore-trafficante, L'Unione Italiana Cemetery, Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr, Death of Santo Trafficante, Jr at Houston, TX. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? You can always change this later in your Account settings. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. Santo Trafficante Jr. continued to develop his interests in Cuba serving as Luciano and Lanskys local liaison. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in Scarface, or the heyday of Miami Vice. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! U.S. Treasury Department documents indicate that law enforcement believed Trafficante's legitimate business interests to include several legal casinos in Cuba; a Havana drive-in movie theater; and shares in several restaurants and bars in Trafficante's hometown of Tampa, Florida. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. [15], Ragano also claimed that Trafficante, four days prior to his death, delivered a deathbed confession which suggested that Marcello was meant to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy instead of his brother, the President. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. department.". Indeed, he owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreclosures to local banks, which he says treat him "like I had leprosy" because of Key Bank. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. That was in part due to his lifestyle. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home.
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