Frank Todaro

Frank Todaro (July 15, 1889—November 29, 1944) was an Italian-American mobster who was the boss of the New Orleans crime family in 1944, until his death in November 1944. He was an associate of Sylvestro "Silver Dollar Sam" Carollo.

Frank Todaro was born Francesco Todaro on July 15, 1889, in the area of San Cipirello, Province of Palermo, Sicily, to Giuseppe Todaro and Giuseppa DiMaggio.

In 1907, Frank along with brothers Calogero "Charlie", Giuseppe "Joe", and Salvatore "Sam" Todaro emigrated to the United States, settling in New Orleans, Louisiana. Another brother, Angelo Todaro, remained in Sicily.

Todaro was the underboss of the New Orleans Mafia and succeeded Corrado Giacona as boss, after his death on July 25, 1944. He was boss for four months, until his death. Carlos Marcello, who became boss of the family in 1947, married his niece Jacqueline "Jackie" Todaro, the daughter of his brother Joseph.

Todaro died from complications related to throat cancer at his residence on S. Broad Street in New Orleans on November 29, 1944. He was 55. It has been speculated that Sylvestro "Silver Dollar Sam" Carollo had a hand in his death with a little poison, but there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.

His funeral was held on December 1, 1944, the wake was conducted at Lamano-Panno-Fallo Funeral Home, a Roman Catholic Requiem Mass was held at St. Mary's Church and he was interred at Metairie Cemetery.

Frank married Nunzia "Nancy" Giammalva on July 14, 1914, in New Orleans,[2] and they had two sons: Joseph and Clement Todaro, and two daughters: Jacqueline Leggio and Josephine Gallo.