Caterina (Castellano) Gambino (abt. 1907 - abt. 1971)

Born about 1907 in New York City, New York, United States

Wife of Carlo Gambino — married 5 Dec 1926 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

Died about 9 Aug 1971 at about age 64 in New York City, New York, United States

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Biography

Catherine Castellano is born around 1907 in New York City, the daughter of Joseph Castellano and Concetta Cassata. She is named after her paternal grandmother.

In the 1915 New York state census, Joseph Castellano, 37 (b. 1878), a butcher, born in Italy, resident of the US for 8 years (since 1907), heads a household at 347 E. 101st St in Manhattan with his wife Concetta, 37 (b. 1878), born in Italy, here for 8 years, and children Kate, 7 (b. 1908), and Providence, 7 (b. 1910), both born in the US. Kate is in school but Providence has no occupation. Also living with them is Joseph’s mother-in-law Providence Saruta, 70 (b. 1845), born in Italy, in the US for 4 years.^[1]

Catherine marries her first cousin, Carlo Gambino, on 5 December 1926 in Brooklyn.^[2] Carlo Gambino lives at 664 E. 182nd St., NY. He is 24 (b. 1902), white, single, a butcher, born in Italy, son of Tommaso Gambino and Felica (Felicia) Castellano. Catherine Castellano lives at 1692 83rd St. She is 19 (b. 1907), white, single, born in NYC, daughter of Joseph Castellano and Concetta Cassata. It is the first marriage for them both. They are wed at St. Rosalia’s Church in Brooklyn, NY on 5 December 1926 before witnesses Paolo Gambino and Providence Castellano. All four sign their names. Stamped received 10 December 1926.^[3][4]

Carlo and Catherine have four children: Phyllis (1927), Thomas (1929), Joseph (1936), and Carl (c. 1944).

In the 1930 federal census of the Bronx, taken 7 April, Carlo Gambino, 27 (b. 1903), heads a household at 706 E. 182nd St. with his wife Katerine, 22 (b. 1908), daughter Phillys, 2 (b. 1928), brother Paul, 25 (b. 1905), and son Thomas, 1 (b. 1929). Carlo and Paul were born in Italy and the other household members were born in New York. Carlo and Katerine married when he was 24 and she was 19 (3 ya; 1927). Carlo emigrated in 1910 and is a naturalized citizen. He is a real estate agent. His brother Paul is in the same profession and emigrated in 1925.^[5]

In the 1940 federal census of Brooklyn, AD 16, taken 8 April, Carlo Gambino, 37 (b. 1903), heads a household at 2230 Ocean Parkway. With Carlo are his wife Katherine, 32 (b. 1908), and children Phyllis, 12 (b. 1928), Thomas, 10 (b. 1930), and Joseph, 4 (b. 1936). Carlo was born in Italy and his wife and children in NY. Carlo is a wholesale fruit salesman working on his own account.

Two of his close neighbors are Joseph Castellano, 62 (b. 1878), and Anthony Castellano, 42 (b. 1898).^[6]

Catherine's husband, brothers, and brothers-in-law are career criminals, members of the same Mafia organization that her husband will one day head. Carlo rises to capo in the 1940s, and becomes wealthy on a number of rackets. She does not ask a lot of questions, and shields the children from most of their father's activities.^[7]

In the 1950 federal census of Brooklyn, NY, ED 24-2451, sheet 72, taken 4 April, it says at top that line 6 gave a confidential income report. Line 6 is Carl Gambino.

Carl Gambino, 47 (b. 1903), born in Italy, heads a household at 2230 Queens Parkway with his wife Catherine J., 42 (b. 1908), and children Phyllis, 22 (b. 1928), Thomas, 20 (b. 1930), Joseph, 14 (b. 1936), and Carl, 6 (b. 1944), all born in NY. No one in the household is employed.^[8]

In 1962, Carlo arranges Thomas' marriage to Frances Lucchese, daughter of Tommy Lucchese.^[7]

Death of Catherine

Kathryn Castellano Gambino, born in 1907, is interred on 9 August 1971 in Saint John Cemetery and Mausoleum in Middle Village, Queens, NY.^[9]

Carlo dies on 15 October 1976 at age 74 in New York. He last resided in Brooklyn, NY 11223.^[10][11][12]

Sources

1. ↑ District: A·D· 24 E·D· 11 Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
2. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2C6-X1Z7 : 17 August 2022), Carlo Gambino and Catherine Castellano, 1926.
3. ↑ Certificate and record of marriage, Carlo Gambino and Catherine Castelano. (1926, December 5). Kings. Cert no. 17617. https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/9742539
4. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2C6-X18W : 17 August 2022), Carlo Gambino and Catherine Castellano, 1926.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRCJ-ZXS?cc=1810731&wc=QZF7-NJJ%3A649437801%2C652307101%2C652307102%2C1589285498 : 8 December 2015), New York > Bronx > Bronx (Districts 501-750) > ED 556 > image 7 of 46; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MY-5D9V?cc=2000219&wc=QZXR-CNK%3A790105101%2C795835101%2C804038401%2C804199801 : accessed 22 November 2022), New York > Kings > New York City, Brooklyn, Assembly District 16 > 24-1873 New York City, Brooklyn Borough Assembly District 16 (Tract 390 - part) > image 16 of 26; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Mafia Nation. (2015, September 18). The Gambino Crime Family - Full Documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVjZqdlhipc
8. ↑ 1950 census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-GQHW-MS6K-S
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #160935229
10. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JPC3-FYD : 7 January 2021), Carlo Gambino, Oct 1976; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #5826
12. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5MN-T64S : 18 July 2020), Carlo Gambino, 1976.