Joseph Bonanno, often referred to as Joe Bonanno, stands as a towering figure in the annals of American Mafia history. From 1931 to 1966, he presided over one of the notorious “Five Families” of the Italian-American Mafia, the Familia Bonanno, wielding immense power and influence across a vast criminal empire stretching from the streets of Brooklyn to the West Coast of California. His story is one of ambition, tradition, and the complex dynamics of organized crime in America.
Bonanno’s ascent to the head of what became known as the Familia Bonanno was paved, in part, by the ruthless ambition of another Mafia legend, “Lucky” Luciano. In 1931, Luciano, alongside Vito Genovese, orchestrated the assassination of Salvatore Maranzano, Bonanno’s boss. This power vacuum allowed the young and ambitious Bonanno to seize control of Maranzano’s crime syndicate, effectively establishing the Familia Bonanno as a force to be reckoned with. Adding to the family ties, Stefano Magaddino, Bonanno’s cousin, also played a significant role in the Mafia landscape, although their relationship would later become strained.
The mid-1960s marked a turning point in Bonanno’s reign. Driven by an insatiable desire to consolidate his power further, Bonanno allegedly plotted the assassinations of two other prominent Mafia bosses: Thomas Lucchese of the Lucchese family and Carlo Gambino of the Gambino Family. These audacious moves, intended to solidify his position amongst the remaining Five Families (which included the Colombos and Genoveses), ultimately led to his downfall within the Mafia Commission and a period of internal strife within the Familia Bonanno.
Despite his decades-long involvement in organized crime and his reputation as a powerful Mafia boss, Joseph Bonanno remarkably evaded serious convictions for much of his life. It wasn’t until 1980, at the age of 75, that he was finally convicted on charges of obstruction of justice and civil contempt of court. This late-in-life conviction did little to diminish his legendary status or the continued operations of the Familia Bonanno.
In a revealing glimpse into his mindset, Bonanno, in 1991, created a calligraphy piece that offered insights into his self-perception and role within the Mafia Commission, the governing body of the American Mafia. Through colored inks on paper, he portrayed himself as a “good father” striving to uphold the “old Tradition.” These words resonated with sentiments expressed in his autobiography, A Man of Honor (1983). In this memoir, Bonanno likened his position as head of the Familia Bonanno to that of a head of state, conducting “foreign affairs” with other Mafia families. He further emphasized his adherence to the “old Tradition,” viewing himself and his peers as a “shadow government” operating alongside legitimate authorities. This public articulation of Mafia principles, however, was met with disapproval from other Mafia leaders who felt he had broken the code of silence. Bonanno defended his book as a personal testament to his life and traditions, arguing it transcended the conventional omertà.
Joseph Bonanno lived to the age of 97, passing away from natural causes in 2002, surrounded by loved ones. Even after his death, the Familia Bonanno, the criminal organization he built and led for so long, persists. His legacy remains a complex and controversial chapter in the history of the American Mafia, a testament to the enduring power and intricate structure of these criminal organizations.
