John Tartamella (March 11, 1891 – July 13, 1966) wasconsigliere for over 30 years toJoseph Bonanno and his family. He was considered a very wise and shrewd elder-statesman who was respected throughout La Cosa Nostra.[1] Born inCastellammare del Golfo,Sicily, he "devoted much of his time to the cause of the barbers"[clarification needed]. His son was Sereno Tartamella, a Bonanno soldier and top aide to rebel faction bosses Gaspare DiGregorio andPaul Sciacca acting as a courier between them andStefano Magaddino, boss of theBuffalo crime family during the bloody "Bonanno War" during the mid/late 1960s. Sereno became a union official for the Beauty Culturist Union. He also was well known for his "joke telling", able to make even the most vicious mob boss smile.[1]
Tartamella worked as a union organizer[clarification needed] inBrooklyn where he led his "local" into theCIO after a break with theAFL.[1] He was expelled by theItalian-American Labor Council "because of his radical views".[1]
On July 13, 1966, Tartamella died of natural causes at his home inCopiague, New York.[2]
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