Frank Todaro Explained

Frank Todaro
Birth Name:Francesco Todaro
Birth Date:July 15, 1889
Birth Place:San Cipirello, Sicily, Italy
Resting Place:Metairie Cemetery
Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation:Mobster
Allegiance:New Orleans crime family
Children:4
Relatives:Carlos Marcello (nephew by marriage)

Frank Todaro (; born Francesco Todaro, pronounced as /it/; July 15, 1889 – November 29, 1944) was an Italian-American mobster, who was the boss of New Orleans crime family during 1944.

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.

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]

Notes and References

  1. 1920 Federal Census - New Orleans
  2. New Orleans Marriage Records
  3. Web site: T Obituaries Orleans Parish Louisiana. 2005. April 10, 2020. USGenWeb Archives Project. 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. Web site: Corrado Giacona: New Orleans Mob Boss (1922 – 1944). April 10, 2020. National Crime Syndacate. 11 October 2016 . 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. Web site: Where New Orleans Buries it's Dead Mobsters: Metairie Cemetery. National Crime Syndacate. 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.. 24 October 2016 . April 10, 2020.
  6. Newspaper Obituary - New Orleans Picayune 11/30/1944