Frank Costello (Jan. 26, 1891, - Feb. 18, 1973)

Calabrian Costello entered the U.S. at age 4. He was raised in New York City and became well acquainted with the Italian communities in East Harlem and New York's Lower East Side. A trusted adviser of the Luciano organization following the Castellammarese War, Costello became boss of the organization in the 1930s after Luciano was imprisoned and underboss Vito Genovese fled to Italy to escape prosecution for murder. Costello oversaw Mafia investments in casinos and gambling devices. In 1957, Costello survived an assassination attempt by a Genovese gunman and decided to retire. He died of natural causes in 1973.