Tommy Gagliano

Thomas Gagliano (born Tommaso Gagliano, ; May 29, 1883 − February 16, 1951) was an Italian-born American mobster and boss of what U.S. federal authorities would later designate as the Lucchese crime family, one of the "Five Families" of New York City. He was a low-profile boss for over two decades. His successor was his longtime loyalist and underboss, Tommy Lucchese.

Early life Gagliano was born on May 29, 1883, in Corleone, Sicily. In 1905 Tommy Gagliano immigrated to the United States in New York City, and married Giuseppina "Josephine" Pomilla, who was also from Corleone. Gagliano, along with Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese and Stefano "Steve" Rondelli, were viewed as the most powerful members of the Reina family.

Gagliano steered the family through a period of high tension between the Five Families. In 1936, Luciano was sent to prison and then, in 1946, deported to Italy. With Luciano's absence, power on the commission was held by an alliance of bosses Vincent Mangano, Joe Bonanno, Stefano Magaddino and Joe Profaci. Gagliano had to be very careful in the face of this alliance, and was keen to keep a low profile while furthering the business interests of his section of Cosa Nostra, in areas such as gasoline rationing, meat and black market sugar. He usually issued his orders through his close allies, particularly Lucchese, who served as the family's public face and de facto street boss. As a result, very little is known about Gagliano between 1932 and his death from natural causes in the 1950s.

Death The mausoleum of Tommy Gagliano in Woodlawn Cemetery In 1951, Lucchese stated during the Senate hearings on organized crime that Gagliano died on February 16, 1951.

Tommy Gagliano is interred in a private mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.