Gaspar or Gaspare DiGregorio (October 4, 1905 – June 11, 1970) was a New York mobster and a high-ranking member of the Bonanno crime family who was a key figure in the "Banana War".
In October 1964, during Joseph Bonanno's two-year absence, Bonanno soldier DiGregorio took advantage of family discontent over Joseph's son Bill Bonanno's role to claim family leadership. The Mafia Commission named DiGregorio as Bonanno family boss, and the DiGregorio revolt led to four years of strife in the Bonanno family, labeled by the media as the "Banana War".[1] This led to a divide in the family between loyalists to Bill and loyalists to DiGregorio.[1]
In early 1966, DiGregorio allegedly contacted Bill about having a peace meeting. Bill agreed and suggested his grand-uncle's house on Troutman Street in Brooklyn as a meeting site. On January 28, 1966, as Bill and his loyalists approached the house, they were met with gunfire; no one was wounded during this confrontation.[2]
In 1968, DiGregorio was wounded by machine gun fire and later suffered a heart attack.[2] The Commission eventually became dissatisfied with DiGregorio's efforts at quelling the family rebellion, and eventually dropped DiGregorio and swung their support to Paul Sciacca. In 1968, after a heart attack, Joseph ended the family warfare by agreeing to retire as boss and move to Arizona. As part of this peace agreement, Bill also resigned as consigliere and moved out of New York with his father.[1]
On June 15, 1970, Gaspar DiGregorio died of lung cancer at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Smithtown, New York. He is buried in Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York Section 30, Row X, Grave #60.[3] Jesse Digregorio Nadler ( Known Family associate ) Left New York City in the Mid 1990's for New Orleans,,South Florida and California-
References
^ abcSifakis, Carl (1987). The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York City: Facts on File. ISBN0-8160-1856-1.
^ ab"Part II: The Mafia at War New York Magazine, July 17, 1972, page 32
^Grutzner, Charles (June 13, 1970). "Reputed Leader in Mafia is Dead" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
Further reading
Bernstein, Lee. The Greatest Menace: Organized Crime in Cold War America. Boston: UMass Press, 2002. ISBN1-55849-345-X
Bonanno, Bill. Bound by Honor: A Mafioso's Story. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN0-312-97147-8
Bonanno, Joseph. A Man of Honor: The Autobiography of Joseph Bonanno. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2003. ISBN0-312-97923-1
Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN0-02-864225-2
External links
The American "Mafia": Who was who ? - Gaspar DiGregorio
gaspar, digregorio, gaspar, gaspare, digregorio, october, 1905, june, 1970, york, mobster, high, ranking, member, bonanno, crime, family, figure, banana, october, 1964, during, joseph, bonanno, year, absence, bonanno, soldier, digregorio, took, advantage, fami. Gaspar or Gaspare DiGregorio October 4 1905 June 11 1970 was a New York mobster and a high ranking member of the Bonanno crime family who was a key figure in the Banana War In October 1964 during Joseph Bonanno s two year absence Bonanno soldier DiGregorio took advantage of family discontent over Joseph s son Bill Bonanno s role to claim family leadership The Mafia Commission named DiGregorio as Bonanno family boss and the DiGregorio revolt led to four years of strife in the Bonanno family labeled by the media as the Banana War 1 This led to a divide in the family between loyalists to Bill and loyalists to DiGregorio 1 In early 1966 DiGregorio allegedly contacted Bill about having a peace meeting Bill agreed and suggested his grand uncle s house on Troutman Street in Brooklyn as a meeting site On January 28 1966 as Bill and his loyalists approached the house they were met with gunfire no one was wounded during this confrontation 2 In 1968 DiGregorio was wounded by machine gun fire and later suffered a heart attack 2 The Commission eventually became dissatisfied with DiGregorio s efforts at quelling the family rebellion and eventually dropped DiGregorio and swung their support to Paul Sciacca In 1968 after a heart attack Joseph ended the family warfare by agreeing to retire as boss and move to Arizona As part of this peace agreement Bill also resigned as consigliere and moved out of New York with his father 1 On June 15 1970 Gaspar DiGregorio died of lung cancer at St John s Episcopal Hospital in Smithtown New York He is buried in Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale New York Section 30 Row X Grave 60 3 Jesse Digregorio Nadler Known Family associate Left New York City in the Mid 1990 s for New Orleans South Florida and California References Edit a b c Sifakis Carl 1987 The Mafia Encyclopedia New York City Facts on File ISBN 0 8160 1856 1 a b Part II The Mafia at War New York Magazine July 17 1972 page 32 Grutzner Charles June 13 1970 Reputed Leader in Mafia is Dead PDF New York Times Retrieved 24 March 2012 Further reading EditBernstein Lee The Greatest Menace Organized Crime in Cold War America Boston UMass Press 2002 ISBN 1 55849 345 X Bonanno Bill Bound by Honor A Mafioso s Story New York St Martin s Press 1999 ISBN 0 312 97147 8 Bonanno Joseph A Man of Honor The Autobiography of Joseph Bonanno New York St Martin s Press 2003 ISBN 0 312 97923 1 Capeci Jerry The Complete Idiot s Guide to the Mafia Indianapolis Alpha Books 2002 ISBN 0 02 864225 2External links EditThe American Mafia Who was who Gaspar DiGregorio Court TV Crime Library The Banana War Gaspar DiGregorio at Find a GraveAmerican MafiaPreceded byJoseph Joe Bananas Bonanno Bonanno crime familyBoss1965 1968 Succeeded byPaul Sciacca Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gaspar DiGregorio amp oldid 1129074841, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
