Corpus Christi Mugshots, Jim Keltner Personal Life, Wethersfield Ct Voter Records, Chris Webber Brothers And Sisters, Articles S

U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Several were wounded. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. Under pressure of a court order granting him immunity from prosecution, but threatening him with contempt if he refused to talk, Santos admitted to a Congressional committee in 1975 that he had in the early 1960s recruited other mobsters to assassinate Castro. However the meeting came to be, the mob nonetheless brought influential states like Illinois into the Kennedy fold in exchange for the White House going easy on organized crime. She is now living in Virginia. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. 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. Robert Anderson aka The Killer Between 50 and 100 buildings were burned. 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. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. And as for the rest of the Trafficante Crime family? However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. He has thought about it. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. It was all on the up and up. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. At this point in our collective history, we're not sure anyone would be surprised to learn that there is, in fact, something called The Mafia. What you might be surprised to learn, however, is how prevalent-even rampantorganized crime in Tampa was in the early and mid-20th century. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Claiming association with the CIA, Roselli knew of Trafficantes vendetta and told his new pal that the U.S. government also wanted to take down Castros Communist regime. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. [14] He stated that he was concerned for his safety and was not certain that he had ever correctly heard or understood Trafficante's comment. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. At 76,. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. He died on March 17, 1987. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. His health had declined in his later years. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. Trafficante was one of the last surviving members of the original Luciano mob era upon his death, and the truth behind the JFK assassination may have perhaps died with him. "[19] In his book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has claimed there to be many flaws in Ragano's claims, including his own claim that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach, Florida, receiving dialysis treatments. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. [12] According to Aleman, when he told Trafficante that President John F. Kennedy would likely be re-elected, Trafficante replied, "No, Jose, he is going to be hit. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. There was an error deleting this problem. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. Scott M. Deitche, Mob Museum Advisory Council member and mob http://www.scottdeitche.com/books.htmlauthor of Tampa's favorite books, Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld & The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jror Manny Leto, previous Editor of Cigar City Magazine and Tampa historian, will guide you on a 1.5 -2 hour walking tour to old gambling palaces, street corners, and alleys where some mobsters met their demise, and restaurants where wise guys, like famed boss Santo Trafficante Jr, held court. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. TAMPA The daughter sits on the front porch of a little bungalow in Seminole Heights, her new home since her husband died a few months ago down south. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Italian Club of Tampa Cemetery Fund, 1731 East 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. Learn more about merges. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. 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. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. department.". Zeng8r/Wikimedia Common A set of bolita balls. Oops, something didn't work. He headed the Trafficante crime family from 1954 to 1987 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. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. But he was also the most powerful crime boss in pre-Castro Cuba, with influence that extended into Florida and the rest of the United States. Nicknames: The Silent Don Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? "The Mob? But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. Verify and try again. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. Although a judge dismissed the charge for lack of evidence, the arrest had a lasting impact on another of Trafficante's ventures: thoroughbred breeding and racing. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. RIP Santo. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. The mobster would later testify: I got news that Cuban officials were looking for to put me in jail because one of the things was that I was a Batista collaborator. 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. The beachfront properties were the site of many parties and barbecues. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. He will always be remembered with fondness. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. [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. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. A full report was made by the Cuban police, dated January 23, 1958, includes transcripts of long-distance telephone calls made from the Sans Souci during the period AugustDecember 1957. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. "Banks are my greatest enemy. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the public understanding of organized crime's history and impact on American society. You can always change this later in your Account settings. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida In addition, "on January 23, 1958 the Cuban Department of Investigation, Havana, Cuba notified the Bureau of Narcotics that Santo Trafficante was registered in their Alien Office under No. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. "I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. Scott M. Deitche is the author of six books on organized crime, including a biography of Santo Trafficante Jr., and has written dozens of articles on organized crime for magazines and newspapers. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. The Trafficante family formed a strong alliance with the Batista government in Cuba and profited from their investments, although they never achieved the goal of dominating gambling on the island. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. He worked to expand the crime familys business holding and territory he was particularly interested in Cuba as a location for gambling, hotels and night clubs and worked to cement good ties with his fellow mobsters in. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. 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. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood.Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. This account has been disabled. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. "My wife's got money. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Desr Gerry, please know that I am thinking of you and never forget the kindness bestowed on me in my difficult time but especially the generosity and affection shown to my daughter and grandson. There is a problem with your email/password. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. Love and peace to you all. Born Tampa, Florida March 24, 1920 Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. [15] He repeated the claim two days later on ABC's Good Morning America,[16] in Newfield's Frontline report entitled JFK, Hoffa and Mob broadcast in November 1992,[17] and again in his 1994 autobiography Mob Lawyer. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". ). Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. This is a carousel with slides. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing, Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo - De Facto Boss of the Chicago Outfit, Giacomo Black Jack Tocco - Last of the Old School Detroit Partnership, Joseph Iacobacci - "Joe Loose" of the Cleveland Mob, John "Sonny" Franzese - A Colombo Family Legend. His business ventures have not always been successful. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. He had a big heart and will be missed. She misses him, but she's making do. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. One bank filed suit in November against him and a business partner, alleging that they defaulted on an $85,000 loan for a piece of property. santo trafficante daughters An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. They raided my apartment, they were looking for money, they tore up all the furniture, they used to come and get me at nighttime, take me out in the woods, trying to tell where I had my money, this and that, until I finally went into hiding.. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. "I thought I could just go down to (former Hillsborough State Attorney) Bill James and (Assistant State Attorney) Lee Atkinson and explain it all away in 15 minutes.". Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. Santo Trafficante 5 10 (1.78 m) Born November 15, 1914 Tampa, Florida, USA Died March 17, 1987 Spouse Josephine Marchese April 17, 1938 - March 17, 1987 (his death, 2 children) Publicity listings 2 Portrayals Did you know Edit Trivia Represented by Frank Ragano. We never paid cash. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. Mob Lawyer Frank Ragano Says He Knows Who Killed JFK", "Book alleges plot to kill JFK in Tampa, cover-up", "At Santo Trafficante auction, a chance to buy a piece of Tampa's mob history", Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Associated Press report on Trafficante's death, "Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life" By Robert Lacy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santo_Trafficante_Jr.&oldid=1140940042, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53540265/santo-trafficante. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. Please enter your email and password to sign in. This browser does not support getting your location. My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. The guy really tried to do it right.". Try again later. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. We have to admit we are fascinated by the whole idea of the mafia and the people we knew and the whispers we grew up hearing. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. Perched on the edge of a leather chair in his attorney's office, Santo J. Trafficante III wears a pained expression on his jowly face. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. Santos ran numerous legitimate businesses as well as illegal, including several legal casinos in Cuba, a Havana drive-in movie theater, and shares in restaurants and bars in Tampa. Like many of the most prominent mobsters of the 20th century, his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., grew up in Sicily, Italy but became a major player in the criminal world after migrating to America. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. The men started to drive away when another sedan drove past the Mercury, the occupants unloading a blast of buckshot as they passed. After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. A year has passed. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. TRAFFICANTE, Santo Jose, 72, of Tampa, passed away July 13, 2010, To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our, All my Love to the family Michael R. Tartaro. His son, Santo Trafficante Jr., took over the crime family and became tangled in a web of conspiracies to kill the leader of revolutionary Cuba and, it is rumored, President John F. Kennedy. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. He was accused of making false financial statements for loans he used to invest in his citrus business, to purchase luxury cars and to buy a beach condo. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery.