Russel Bufalino

I,ve read as i,m sure many others have that when Vito Genovese was sent up Bufalino had acted as the head or held a position in the admin. Does anybody think this is statement holds any weight and if so was he made by New York or what, I know he had alot of juice in the labor rackets.

Have you read "I Heard You Paint Houses"? Frank Sheeran really makes Bufalino out to be really powerful in that book. But Sheeran also claims Bufalino got the contract on Jimmy Hoffa and Sheeran killed him himself. And if that wasn't enough, Sheeran also claims to have killed Joe Gallo. Sounds kinda bullshitty.

I think so. Bufalino was trusted and respected nationally and traveled to New York constantly. He had strong ties to the Lucchese's at one point and he had power in the garment industry. I believe it's feasible. Also the Sheeran book is good but he was a hitman who wasn't exactly in the know. He drove Bufalino around but even in the book when he asks Bufalino any questions about the mob, Bufalino dodges the question. Sheeran wasn't nearly as trusted as guys like Ed Sciandra, Guv Guarnieri, or William D'elia, who got to discuss business with other families. The result is a kind of messy book that tells you more about Jimmy Hoffa and Angelo Bruno then Russell Bufalino. I was kind of frustrated reading it.

Anyway. I can't say about Bufalino being interim boss but seeing as how everyone liked him and he made weekly trips to Manhattan, it's possible.

Would anyone be interested in a comprehensive Bufalino Family tree? 1908 - Present. Who got whacked, who informed, etc.

1960-Present, 1908 is just to far back for me.

You going to make one? You should

I think he already has one if I,m not mistaken the Bufalino Family is his area of instrest.

Yeah. I was combing through FBI Files on Joseph Barbara and I found a lot of info no one had uncovered. The BB's kind of in a dry spell so I think it would be nice. I also have a few mugshots but my scanner's broken...

No I was thinking of doing a chart. I'll do it now.

By the way, who do you think really killed Hoffa? Kuklinski claimed he did it, Sheeran claimed he did it, who else? Who do you think is more believable?

Another question, sorry for the off-topic: how many years did Sheeran do after being convicted with Bufalino? I am sure I read somewhere he got a long sentence but in the only documentary about Sheeran there was no mention of him ever doing time.

I haven't read any of the books on Kuklinski, mainly because of the guys on here that said he was full of shit. I MIGHT could have believed Sheerhan but then he claims the Gallo murder as well. It's hard to believe he pulled off two of the biggest hits in mob history. I tend to think both are full of shit. I think it was probably a couple of low level, no-name guys out of the Detroit family that took care of Hoffa.

More than just the NY bosses held commission chairs, I read that Bruno held a spot at some time, maybe with the Bonnano drug issues they were replaced.

I also read the Marcello and Traficante were consulted on numerous issues that only effected NY families.

I'm sure Bufalino had enough clout and respect to have held a spot for a NY family if that was imprissoned boss' wish.

That claim is beyond ridiculous. The top family in the country has to outsource their leadership to some guy from out of town. C'mon. Bufalino never was put in charge of the Genovese family, for any length of time.

I was thinking the same thing, but then i started wondering where he was made so until i found out that he was affliated with Buffalo and most likey got his button then, i entertained the idea.

The version I read is that, following the murder of Eboli in 1972, there was infighting and the leadership fell into disarray and the Commission appointed Bufalino to babysit as "trustee" until they got their act together. Sounds a little far-fetched, but theoretically possible.

I don't think it's that far-fetched to think Bufalino was asked to run things temporarily.

It's beyond far-fetched. Who in the family would acknowledge his authority? He'd be seen as a temporary outsider with no real power. Besides, this is to assume that there was nobody in this huge family that could assume that role and they had to send away for somebody. It's absurd.

If there is serious infighting, an impartial outsider everyone respected might be just the right person to prevent a civil war. The leaders would have to agree to make it work though.

if I knew how to put a pic for a boston small book its bufflo,winter,tino the greek and tuffy from k.c. its says the class of leavenwoeth 84. that's a bunch of bad mofo's. Howie winter gave some pic;'s.

I don't agree with this theory. The Genovese family had plenty of capable guys who could've filled the spot.

in the book on Howie winter he tells about how buffalo had his own ice cream machine in Leavenworth, the guy was like a god amoung the inmates. he even says russel saved the famous guy lefty guns from getting messed up cause he thought cause he was made guy he acted up. theres some pics of him in the sommerville book guy had one googly eye.

Has nothing to do with having "capable guys", especially if there were 2 sides ready to hit the mattresses. It could have been a temporary stop gap to prevent bloodshed. Maybe Bufalino was more of a mediator than an acting boss?

Are there any credible sources to this story or did it start on the internet?

If memory serves me correct, Bufalino was wrongly identified as a Lucchese member by the FBI in the early 1960s. He had strong ties to and was closely associated with Jimmy Plumeri (a Lucchese member) and his connections to the Teamsters which could be the reason why the FBI wrongly ideed him with that Family. From the mid 1960s onwards however, realizing their blunder, Bufalino´s name was not shown on any FBI Lucchese member lists.
A book entitled Hoffa´s War was released around 1980. In the book, the author claims that Bufalino had served as an top advisor for the Genovese bosses. I don´t remember the details but I think the author stated that he had used FBI documents dated in the 1970s as basis for the Bufalino-Genovese-advisor claim. In my opinion, most likely, the FBI was wrong about Bufalino again. If anybody have more info on this, please correct me if I´m wrong.

My point is, and to answer your question, that the rumor of Bufalino somewhat being involved with the leadership of the Genovese Family did not start on the internet, but most likely stemms from Hoffa´s War, the book.

Thanks HairyK

You´re welcome.