Gaetano Lucchese
| Thomas Lucchese | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Gaetano Lucchese December 1, 1899 Palermo, Sicily, Italy |
| Died | July 13, 1967 (aged 67) Lido Beach, New York, United States |
| Cause of death | Brain tumor |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Queens, New York City, New York |
| Nationality | Sicilian American |
| Other names | Tommy Brown, Tommy Three-Finger Brown |
| Occupation | Mobster |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine |
| Children | Frances Lucchese-Gambino, Baldassare "Bobby" Lucchese |
| Parent(s) | Baldassarre and Francesca |
| Allegiance | Lucchese crime family |
Thomas Lucchese (pronounced [lukˈkeːse]; born Gaetano Lucchese, December 1, 1899 – July 13, 1967) was a Sicilian-born American gangster and founding member of the Mafia in the United States, an offshoot of the Cosa Nostra in Sicily. From 1951 until 1967, he was the boss of the Lucchese crime family, one of the Five Families that dominates organized crime in New York City.
Gaetano Lucchese was born on December 1, 1899 to Baldassarre and Francesca Lucchese in Palermo, Sicily. The surname "Lucchese" (pronounced Lou-kay-zeh) suggests a family origin from the Sicilian city of Lucca Sicula. In early 1911, the Lucchese family emigrated to the United States, settling in Manhattan's Italian neighborhood of East Harlem. Lucchese's father Giuseppe worked hauling cement. Lucchese worked in a machine shop until 1915, when an industrial accident amputated his right thumb and forefinger.
After his accident Lucchese spent more time with his friends. Lucchese along with Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, formed the 107th Street gang. Members of the gang stole wallets, burglarized stores, and engaged in other hustles. The 107th Street gang operated under the protection of Bronx-East Harlem family boss Gaetano "Tom" Reina. By the age of eighteen, Lucchese had started a window washing company in East Harlem; anyone refusing to buy window washing would have their windows broken.
In 1920, Lucchese was arrested in Riverhead, Long Island on auto theft charges. During his booking, a police officer compared Lucchese's deformed hand with that of Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, a popular Major League Baseball pitcher. The officer nicknamed Lucchese "Three Finger Brown", an alias that Lucchese always disliked. In January 1921, Lucchese was convicted of auto theft and sentenced on March 27, 1922 to three years and nine months in prison. Lucchese served thirteen months at Sing Sing Correctional Facility before he was paroled. It would be Lucchese's only conviction.
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