Frank J. Valenti, Rochester's notorious mob boss who oversaw local organized crime during its heyday of gambling parlors, prostitution and extortion, died last Saturday at age 97.
While atop Rochester's organized crime mob hierarchy in the 1960s and '70s, Mr. Valenti was so infamous that the Democrat and Chronicle ran a regular update on his doings under the heading, "Spotlight on Rochester's Gambling Czar."
Mr. Valenti had been living in a nursing facility near Houston. His death was confirmed by four people, including retired law enforcers and people close to the family, who asked not to be identified. A death certificate was filed in Texas Wednesday.
Bart Maimone, who provided fuel to Mr. Valenti's construction business in the 1960s and '70s, said he would always remember Mr. Valenti as fair and generous, despite any criminal ties he may have had.
Once, Maimone said, he was prepared to go into business with a local company with organized crime ties and Mr. Valenti urged him not to. "He never wanted me to get involved with that," said Maimone, noting that he learned this week of Mr. Valenti's death.
Gentlemanly and handsome, Mr. Valenti fit a Hollywood stereotype of a gangster who could be both diplomatic and violently tyrannical.
That Mr. Valenti lived to almost a century may come as a surprise to those who saw him in 1964 when, for court appearances, he was disheveled, haggard and claimed he suffered from heart ailments and ulcers triggered by the constant attention from law enforcement. But Mr. Valenti often seemed able to appear on death's doorstep for court appearances, only to vigorously recover for meetings with his capos.
Mr. Valenti's travels read like a mob history. In 1957, he and his brother, Constenze "Stanley" Valenti, were two of the mobsters at the infamous Apalachin conference, a Mafia summit meeting held in Apalachin, near Binghamton.
Six years later, when mob turncoat and killer Joseph Valachi helped federal authorities detail the reach of organized crime, Frank and Stanley Valenti were two of the more than 300 Mafioso whom Valachi identified as central figures.
Mr. Valenti was considered to be "the most significant person" in organized crime in Rochester, said local lawyer and former district attorney Donald Chesworth, who was involved in mob investigations when he worked with the FBI in the 1960s.
With his charm, dapper attire and swept-back white hair, Valenti always seemed the center of attention within any crowd.
Rochester resident Diane Lamanna remembers meeting Mr. Valenti at a local restaurant/bar when she was a teenager. She was waiting for a friend when she struck up a conversation with him and complained about how she never had money. "He was polite," she said. "He was a total gentleman." After he left, Lamanna found a napkin he'd left her with a tip about a horse running in a race that evening. Bet on the horse, he'd written. She paid no attention. After she told her friends about the meeting, they informed her just whom she'd been talking to. And, sure enough, they checked and the horse had won.
Born in Rochester, Mr. Valenti ascended through the organized crime ranks as would-be challengers mysteriously disappeared or were slain.
"It was an interesting time and there were a lot of murders," said Hugh Higgins, an FBI special agent in Rochester during the mob era. "But they were killing one another."
Mr. Valenti moved to Pittsburgh in 1961 — "exiled" there according to news accounts — after a conviction on a voting fraud in Rochester. There, he became a prominent figure in organized crime, before returning to Rochester in 1964 and seizing control of gambling and prostitution. But Mr. Valenti apparently avoided drug trafficking, as that criminal enterprise began to grow, Mr. Higgins said. "It's a funny kind of world, but I think Frank had some morals."
The Rochester enterprise during the late 1950s and much of the '60s was linked to the Buffalo-based Maggadino crime family.
"They broke away from the Maggadino family and they were considered, quote, unquote, a 'renegade' group as far as La Cosa Nostra goes," said Richard Endler, a retired federal prosecutor. But Mr. Valenti also had connections with the powerful New York City-based Bonanno family.
Mr. Valenti was able to use that influence to instill fear in local bookmakers who always paid a portion of their illicit earnings to Mr. Valenti and his clan, said local lawyer Robert A. Napier, whose father, the late Robert C. Napier, defended many of those same bookmakers.
Napier said his father thought Mr. Valenti was able to use "more bravado than actual muscle" because of the Bonanno connection.
Constantly under police surveillance at his Henrietta home, Mr. Valenti grew wary of the law enforcement attention and in 1970 hatched a plot to direct police attention toward others. The ploy worked. "There were a bunch of bombings," Higgins said. "We always attributed it to civil rights leftist organizations. Turned out it was the mob."
Mr. Valenti groomed and schooled some young men who would become Rochester's organized crime leaders, including Salvatore "Sammy" Gingello, arguably the region's most famous Mafia underboss. "Valenti took Sammy under his wing," said former Rochester police Officer Ralph "Butch" Bellucco, who now has a private investigation business.
Mr. Valenti's basement was the site of initiation ceremonies, in which newcomers to the crime family agreed they would never spill Mafia secrets, would break laws only with the consent of their mob leaders, and would not sleep with a comrade's girlfriend or wife.
Some of those same neophyte mobsters decided to wrest control from Mr. Valenti when they decided he was pocketing too much of the illicit gains. In 1972, one of his closest associates was fatally shotgunned.
After a federal prison stint for extortion, Mr. Valenti moved to Arizona and stayed there for years. Meanwhile, Rochester erupted into violent gang wars between rival teams that, coupled with toughened law enforcement, destroyed the organized crime ranks. Mr. Gingello was killed in a 1978 car bombing.
Mr. Valenti was father of five daughters. His wife, Eileen, passed away years ago.
Thanks to Gary Craig
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Sunday, September 28, 2008
Mob Boss Dies
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Bonannos,
Frank Valenti,
Joseph Valachi,
Sammy Gingello,
Stanley Valenti,
Stefano Maggodino
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You know I see so much about Frank Valenti and his business ventures mentioned online everywhere.
ReplyDeleteIn Phoenix, AZ. Several years back - after wife Eileen passed of cancer my Dad and I would spend time at his house. When Frank V. was sick my Grandmother Helen would stay a few days to take care of him.
1977 I was 8yrs old. My family moved out from Pittsburgh for my Granfathers health.
I remember 3 of Frank V's daughters baby sitting me a few times. Gina, Ramona and Carla.
Between my Grandfather dying 1978 new years eve, and Frank V spending time in jail shortly after arriving in Arizona - and me only age 8. It wasn't till ages 17 thru 25 that I would come to know him. Out of respect I calles him Uncle Frank - As did my Dad as well.
My Grandfather was friends with Frank V long before I was born. He would stay at our house then in pittsburgh - 1414 hampshire. Along with primo carnera boxing champ back then. They would all stay and my Grandmother would cook. I was young - but there were plenty of stories and good times back then. I remember My Pap had one of the first car phones. It was just like a regular home phone that took up part of his trunk. Frank V. would always fill the inside of the garage with any overflow of resteraunt foods. Many cans and other things.
Thing about it there was a high level of trust between my Pap and Frank V. My Pap also named Frank. Mostly because they were not in direct business together. Mainly because my Grandfather was already a stand up guy and a hell of a man. He didn't need to be connected - Frank V. well aware that my Pap in his character refused to gain from or be within 20,000 miles of puppet strings.
Basically they did not need each other - I was about 5 or 6 yrs old and I like my Grandfather and my Father naturally grew into a relationship over time that would be one of respect for all of us. It didn't matter who he was- How they respected each other was how I respected him.
It was a almost complete mutaul respect - I really think that is why I like Frank V so much. If my Pap or Dad at times over the years argued with Frank V. - and I mean argued - In one case in the entry way of his Paradise Valley home my Dad and him threw a few fists. I remember driving back home and my Dad saying "That son of a bitch" "Tell me to do this and that, I'll!!. After a week we were at his house eating clams and linguini. It was family in almost every aspect. We weren't related by blood - But by the ability to have a good time, and to help as any friends would. So many stories that I read-
The guy treated me with respect - I was 26. He was at least 83 at the time. He gave me advise a few times - maybe by saying "hey straighten the hell out."
This is from Frank Stringi Jr. - In know way did I ever feel CONNECTED or inferior around him.
He was a great guy. Second to My Grandfather Frank Stringi and my Dad Frank Stringi.
so for anyone who thinks that all these type of pepole do is crime.
Thats not true.
I would say that it was a punishment to Frank V for having 5 daghters and no sons. But they are beautiful women.
Hi,
DeleteMy father was friends with Frank and always spoke about Frank's sister. She was a Nun. Do you know what her name was and what become of her? Any information you could provide would be appreciated.
thank you!
Blog Owner feel free to edit my last comment for spelling - and for any rambling -
ReplyDeleteGood People. "Eileen Valenti"
seeking information about the valenti families my grandmother was nancy valenti ciotti from indiana and pittsburgh pa her family also lived in rochester she was left in pelarmo along with her sister carmela until the age of 20 with her grandmother, a denapoli any family info would be greatly appreciated.call email me at robert.joswiak@verizon.net
DeleteTo person running blog.
ReplyDeleteIf you have any contact with his daghters- and can pass a message.
Frankie S JR. In Arizona says Hi.
I hope Gina is doing well.
fstringi@q.com
i happen to know that gina(my daughter ginas "namesake")is doin very well,and has a beautiful family of her own,and her siblings are also well,i will pass along the message,as she never goes on the computer,or uses social websites..
ReplyDeleteMy cousin was sammy Gingello never met him, he died the day after my7th Birthday, my cousin tells me stories about him.
ReplyDelete