Gaetano Reina

Gaetano "Tommy" Reina (September 1889 – February 26, 1930) was the first Boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City.

Early years

Gaetano Reina was born in September 1889 in Corleone, Sicily to Giacomo Reina and Carmela Rumore. In the early 1900s (decade), the Reina family moved to New York City and settled on 107th Street in East Harlem. Reina along with his brother Antonio began working with members of the Morello family. In July 1913, Reina's sister Bernarda married Vincenzo Terranova. Gaetano Reina married Angelina Olivera, the couple had three sons (one, Giacomo, became a member of the Lucchese family) and three daughters (one, Carmela "Mildred", married Joe Valachi in 1932). In November 1914, Reina and Jack Dragna were arrested for the murder of Barnet Baff.

Mafia boss

Reina became boss of his own crime family controlling criminal operations in The Bronx and East Harlem. His crime family held a monopoly over the ice box distribution in The Bronx. Reina's underboss was Tommy Gagliano, a former Morello gang member.

In the late 1920s, Reina formed an alliance with Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria, who had taken over the old Morello crime family. In 1925, Salvatore Maranzano arrived in New York and took over the Castellammare family. The two Mafia bosses began fighting in what became known as the Castellammarese War. Reina switched sides and began supporting Maranzano. Masseria learned of Reina's betrayal and ordered Charles "Lucky" Luciano to arrange Reina's murder.

On February 26, 1930, Reina left the home of his mistress Marie Ennis (other sources claim he was leaving his aunt's apartment in the Bronx after dinner) on Sheridan Avenue when Vito Genovese (but other suspect Joseph Pinzolo) shot Reina in the head with a double barreled shotgun, instantly killing him.

In popular culture

Films

• The Valachi Papers (1972) – Reina was portrayed by Amedeo Nazzari
• Gangster Wars (1982) – Reina was portrayed by Joe Tornatore
• Mobsters (1991) – Reina was portrayed by Chris Penn

Novels

• In Martin A. Gosch and Richard Hammer's The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano

According to Charles Luciano, Reina was:

"...a man of his word, he had culture, and was a very honorable Italian."