Albert Anastasia
| Albert Anastasia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Umberto Anastasio September 26, 1902 Parghelia, Calabria, Italy |
| Died | October 25, 1957 (aged 55) Manhattan, New York, United States |
| Cause of death | assassination |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Known for | Murder, Inc. |
| Title | Boss of the Gambino crime family |
| Predecessor | Vincent Mangano |
| Successor | Carlo Gambino |
| Parent(s) | Raffaello Anastasio (1869–1920) Louisa Nomina de Filippi (1885–1925) |
| Relatives |
Anthony Anastasio (brother, 1906–1963) Gerardo Anastasia (brother) Salvatore Anastasia (brother, 1919–1973) Jack O'Halloran (son, 1943-present) Umberto, son, born 1935, educated in Saint Cecilia H.S., Englewood, NJ., living on Bluff Road, Fort Lee, NJ |
Albert Anastasia (born Umberto Anastasio, September 26, 1902 – October 25, 1957) was one of the most ruthless and feared Cosa Nostra mobsters in United States history. A founder of both the American Mafia and Murder, Inc., Anastasia was boss of what would become the modern Gambino crime family.
He was perhaps the most feared hit-man of the Italian American Cosa Nostra's golden era, earning the infamous nicknames "the Mad Hatter" and "Lord High Executioner." Anastasia was also in control of the New York waterfront for most of his criminal career, including the dockworker unions.
Albert Anastasia was born on September 26, 1902, in Parghelia, Calabria, Italy. His parents were Raffaelo Anastasio and Louisa Nomina de Filippi. The family name was "Anastasio", but Albert started using "Anastasia" in 1921.
Raffaelo Anastasio was a railway worker who died after World War I, leaving behind nine sons and three daughters. Albert's brothers included Salvatore, Frank, Joseph, Gerardo, and Anthony Anastasio. Anastasia was married to Elsa Barnesi; they had one son, Anthony Anastasia, Jr. They would have another son and two daughters.
In 1919, Anastasia and three of his brothers arrived in New York City, working on a freighter. Deserting the ship, the brothers illegally entered the United States. The boys soon started working as longshoremen on the Brooklyn waterfront.
On March 17, 1921, Anastasia was convicted of murdering longshoreman George Turino as the result of a quarrel. Anastasia was sentenced to death and sent to Sing Sing State Prison in Ossining, New York to await execution. Due to a legal technicality, however, Anastasia won a retrial in 1922. Because four of the original prosecution witnesses had disappeared in the meantime, Anastasia was released from custody in 1922.
On June 6, 1923, Anastasia was convicted of illegal possession of a firearm and sentenced to two years in city prison.
By the late 1920s, Anastasia had become a top leader of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), controlling six union local chapters in Brooklyn. Anastasia allied himself with Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria, a powerful gang leader in Brooklyn. Anastasia soon became close associates with future Cosa Nostra bosses Joe Adonis, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Vito Genovese, and Frank Costello.
...
Wikipedia