Gaspare Messina
Encyclopedia
Gaspare Messina founded the New England Mafia also known as the Patriarca crime family
in 1916. Married to Francesca (Reggio) Messina, he immigrated to Brooklyn from Sicily
with his wife Francesca, his brother Phillip, and his brother’s wife Giovanna in 1905. Phillip eventually abandoned his family. Several years after their arrival in New York, Don Gaspare, Francesca and Phillip's wife Giovanna moved to Boston, Massachusetts. Gaspare and Francesca had three sons: Salvatore, Luciano and Vito, and one daughter, Gasparina. Giovanna had one son, Luciano. Gaspare Messina retired as head of the Boston Mafia in 1924. He was succeeded by Phil Buccola. Don Gaspare died on June 15, 1957, in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Patriarca crime family
The Patriarca crime family, also known as the New England crime family and the Providence crime family, is an Italian-American organized crime syndicate based in New England, specifically Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, and is part of the Italian-American Mafia or "La Cosa Nostra"...
in 1916. Married to Francesca (Reggio) Messina, he immigrated to Brooklyn from Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
with his wife Francesca, his brother Phillip, and his brother’s wife Giovanna in 1905. Phillip eventually abandoned his family. Several years after their arrival in New York, Don Gaspare, Francesca and Phillip's wife Giovanna moved to Boston, Massachusetts. Gaspare and Francesca had three sons: Salvatore, Luciano and Vito, and one daughter, Gasparina. Giovanna had one son, Luciano. Gaspare Messina retired as head of the Boston Mafia in 1924. He was succeeded by Phil Buccola. Don Gaspare died on June 15, 1957, in Somerville, Massachusetts.