If john difronzo officially retired today, who do u think would be better suited to run the outfit?

Marco D'Amico would take the spot in Elmwood Park and retain the current relationship they have with Cicero and 26th Street. He's got the most respect and the most juice.

Pete DiFronzo is sick (going to Mayo clinic).

Mike Spano or Marco D'Amico both well respected or the street.

I'm told by some that the "blue collar boss" position previously held by Marcello and then Sarno has now been filled by Salvatore Cataudella, FWIW.

Yeah, as far as the guy actually running things on the street (like Marcello and Sarno), I'd expect it to be somebody out of the Melrose Park crew.

Difronzo is in his eighties, it would be smart for him to retire and just groom the person he choose to take his space

He pretty much is retired now. He's still technically the boss but isn't active on the street. He makes final decisions

What about Solly D?

The Spano's are out of the rackets or so I've heard.

Solly D is back in Twin Lakes running his bars with his son and also has some joint ventures with Matassa. He has probably filled the void in Cicero, but remains close with a lot of Elmwood Park guys like Marco D'Amico and the Dotes.

Everyone think the next boss is coming out of elwood like John.But maybe Cicero is making a come back.

Interesting:

http://mafiatoday.com/tag/salvatore-cataudella/

It seems like to me marcello is still in charge and he's putting people from his crew in his place to carry out his orders

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I was born and raised in Elmwood Park. My Uncle, who is now basically retired, belonged to the Elmwood Park Crew years ago and worked as a soldier. In Chicago, soldiers are not made guys like in New York. Soldiers belong to the crew but work under a made guy. My Uncle worked directly under Willie Messino who was a made guy. The Boss of the old Elmwood Park Crew back in the 1960's and 1970's all the way up to 1986 was Jackie Cerone. Jack's personal underboss was Joe Gagliano. John DiFronzo was another made guy in the crew at this time. Gagliano died in 1970 and DiFronzo became underboss to Cerone. Cerone went to Jail in 1986 and DiFronzo became the Boss of Elmwood Park and #2 Boss of the entire Outfit. in 1986, Rush St., 26th Street, Grand Ave. & Chicago Heights Crews all were partnered in one way or another with Elmwood Park & Cicero who were almost like one huge Dominent Power crew headed by Sam Carlisi & John DiFronzo. These two guys were hand picked by Auippa & Cerone as there replacements. Chicago Outfit has always been organized by Street Crews. The Top two Bosses of the Outfit have the Strongest Crews and make the final decisions. Hope this has been helpful and would enjoy talking to some of the others on this blog. Thank you.

To answer the question of who's next in line in Chicago, I would say without a doubt it is Marco D'Amico. He is very close to DiFronzo and is at this time actually the Day To Day Boss of Elmwood Park Crew and the Day To Day Boss of the entire Outfit. John DiFronzo is his Senior Advisor and stays behind the scenes. In 2013, The Outfit presently has 4 Street Crews for sure and possibly 5. There is one Dominant Crew which is Elmwood Park. The other crews partnered in one way or another with Elmwood Park are Grand Ave., 26th St., Cicero and possibly Chicago Heights. I'm not sure if there is an actual Chicago Heights Crew anymore. I've heard conflicting stories. It's quite possible a few of the made guys left over from the Chicago Heights Crew now belong either to 26th St. or Cicero, depending upon whether they are involved in bookmaking, chop shops or poker machines.

How did Joseph Balistrieri die? Did he have cancer or jump out a window?

You know the guy that lived at the Shorecrest in Milwaukee, WI, Frank's son.

I've been told the same thing, except I would like to expand on it a little more for clarity. Cautadella is the Boss of the Cicero crew which could be considered 'blue collar' compared to Elmwood Park. However, Cautadella's power is over Cicero and that's it. The bosses of the Cicero, Grand Ave. & 26th Street Crews all answer to the Dominant crew which is Elmwood Park. Marco D'Amico is the day to day Boss of Elmwood Park and of the ENTIRE Outfit. He is backed by Johnny(DiFronzo) who is his Chief Advisor and Boss of Bosses in the Outfit. DiFronzo is strictly behind the scenes.

Where does rudy fratto fits in all of this? He's been with the outfit for a long time he must have some power

Rudy Fratto is a made guy in the Elmwood Park Crew, so he has power. However, Rudy Fratto is not a Boss. The media in Chicago tends to call everyone who is in charge of something a 'Boss'. The Media uses the word 'Boss' very loosely because they basically don't know what they're talking about most of the time.

So Difronzo is in a position similar to Accardo?

Exactly.

No one could top Tony Accardo, one of America's greatest gangsters. (Not that it's a good thing)

Thats the al capone way, retire and give advice, the outfit does it well

Solly D. is semiretired and is with Cicero as always. it doesn't matter if he is in the North Suburbs (Lake County). Tony Spilotro was in Las Vegas years ago and belonged to Joey Lombardo (Grand Ave.) Getting back to Solly D., He was made into Cicero years ago. Joe Ferriola sponsored him.

Marco. Johnny Sponsored him years ago. He is Johnny's man and belongs to him. Marco is to Johnny the way Giancana was to Paul Ricca and the way Cerone was to Accardo.