Frank Todaro

Frank Todaro (/tɔːdɑːroʊ/; born Francesco Todaro; Italian: [franˈtʃesko 'tɔdaːro]; July 15, 1889 – November 29, 1944) was an Italian-American mobster, who was the boss of New Orleans crime family during 1944.

For the Italian anatomist, see Francesco Todaro.

Frank Todaro
Born	Francesco Todaro (1889-07-15)July 15, 1889 San Cipirello, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy
Died	November 29, 1944(1944-11-29) (aged 55) New Orleans, U.S.
Resting place	Metairie Cemetery, Metairie, U.S.
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Mobster
Spouse(s)	Nancy Giamalva ( m. 1914)
Children	4
Relatives	Carlos Marcello (nephew-in-law)
Allegiance	New Orleans crime family

Early life

Todaro was born in the area of San Cipirello, Province of Palermo, Sicily on July 15, 1889, to Giuseppe Todaro and Giuseppa DiMaggio. Todaro along with brothers Calogero "Charlie", Giuseppe "Joe", and Salvatore "Sam" Todaro immigrated to the United States in 1907 and settled in New Orleans, Louisiana,[1] while his brother Angelo remained in Sicily.

Frank married Nancy Giamalva on July 14, 1914 in New Orleans,[2] and they two sons children; Joseph and Clement Todaro, and two daughters, Jacqueline Leggio and Josephine Gallo.[3]

Career

Todaro was underboss of the New Orleans Mafia and succeeded Corrado Giacona as boss, after his death on July 25, 1944. He was boss for four months, until his death.[4] Carlos Marcello, who became boss of the family in 1947, married his niece Jacqueline "Jackie" Todaro, the daughter of his brother Joseph.[lower-alpha 1]

Later life

Todaro died at his residence on S. Broad Street in New Orleans on November 29, 1944 from complications related to throat cancer. It has been speculated that Silvestro "Silver Dollar Sam" Carollo had a hand in his death with a little poison, but there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.[5]

His funeral was held on December 1, 1944, the wake was conducted at Lamano-Panno-Fallo Funeral Home, a Roman Catholic Requiem Mass was held at St. Mary's Church and he was interred at Metairie Cemetery.[6]

References

1. 1920 Federal Census - New Orleans
2. New Orleans Marriage Records
3. "T Obituaries Orleans Parish Louisiana". USGenWeb Archives Project. 2005. Retrieved April 10, 2020. Is The Beloved Brother Of Jaqueline Leggio, Josephine Gallo And Joseph Todaro (Deceased), And The Son Of Frank Todaro And Nancy Giamalva Todaro, Both Deceased.
4. "Corrado Giacona: New Orleans Mob Boss (1922 – 1944)". National Crime Syndacate. Retrieved April 10, 2020. Giacona ran things (along with Silver Dollar Sam Carolla who acted as street boss) until his death on July 25, 1944. His underboss, Frank Todaro, succeeded Giacona but himself died about six months later.
5. "Where New Orleans Buries it's Dead Mobsters: Metairie Cemetery". National Crime Syndacate. Retrieved April 10, 2020. Some speculation claims Silver Dollar Sam had a hand in his death with a little poison. Not a lot of info out there on Frank.
6. Newspaper Obituary - New Orleans Picayune 11/30/1944

Notes

1. In Mafia Kingfish, by John H. Davis, has been erroneously reported that he was the father-in-law of Carlos Marcello.

External links

• Peterborough K (August 6, 2011). "Frank Todaro". Find a Grave. Retrieved April 10, 2020.

American Mafia
Preceded by Vincenzo Moreci	New Orleans crime family Underboss 19??–1944	Succeeded by Joseph Poretto
Preceded by Corrado Giacona	New Orleans crime family Boss 1944	Succeeded by Silvestro Carollo