Centenarian mobster 'Sonny' Franzese passes News, notes, articles and book excerpts from authors of crime history.

#OTD (Feb 23) in 2020, #Colombo Crime Family big shot John #Franzese, at least 100 years old, dies after a brief illness in #RoslynNY.

#MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

On this date, February 23... • in 1922, 'Jerry the Wolf' Ruberto, suspected of killing Silvio Melchiorre and others, is shot to death in a gunfight at the Cafe Venezia on Manhattan's Lower East Side. In Niagara Falls NY, a lavish funeral is held for slain bootlegger Samuel Sirianni. • in 1929, Chicago officials announce that a witness to the St. Valentine's Day Massacre was kidnapped, threatened and released in Detroit. • in 1933, a Prohibition violation charge against Sebastian John LaRocca, then of Jamestown NY, is dismissed. • in 1938, the late Ciro Terranova, known as New York's Artichoke King, receives an inexpensive funeral concluding with burial at Calvary Cemetery. • in 1956, southern California Mafia boss Jack Dragna is found dead - apparently from a heart attack - in bed at the Saharan Hotel in Los Angeles. • in 2001, Anthony Joseph 'Tony Jack' Giacalone dies at the age of 82 in Detroit. • in 2020, Colombo Family big shot John 'Sonny' Franzese, over 100 years old, dies at Roslyn NY following a brief illness. Image of Jack Dragna.

#OTD (Feb. 23)
Events in U.S. organized crime #history.

#NiagaraFallsNY #Chicago #Detroit #JamestownNY #RoslynNY #LosAngeles #NewYork #Mafia #MafiaHistory 🗃️ #Skystorians

I'm doing a Long Island Library Tour for IT'S CHINESE NEW YEAR, CURIOUS GEORGE! I'd love your support by attending or sharing. Info: biculturalmama.com/its-chinese-...

#longisland #huntingtonny #RoslynNY #northportny @lynnettenovak.bsky.social #greatneck #hauppauge #mariawenadcock #biculturalmama