Origins & Early Life

Constantino Paul Castellano (Italian: [kastelˈlaːno]; June 26, 1915 – December 16, 1985) was an American crime boss who succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family of New York City. Castellano ran the organization from 1976 until his murder on December 16, 1985. Constantino Paul Castellano was born on June 26, 1915, in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. His parents, Giuseppe and Concetta Castellano (née Cassata), were both Italian immigrants; his father was a butcher and an early member of the Mangano crime family, the forerunner of the Gambino crime family.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Having dropped out of school in the eighth grade, Castellano learned butchering and collecting numbers game receipts, both from his father. In July 1934, at age 19, Castellano was arrested for the first time in Hartford, Connecticut, for robbing a haberdasher. He refused to identify his two accomplices to police and served a three-month prison sentence. By refusing to break the oath of omertà and cooperate with authorities, Castellano enhanced his reputation for mob loyalty. Castellano's sister Catherine had married one of their cousins, future boss Carlo Gambino, in 1932...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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