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| c. Mid-1960s |
Peter 'Patty Shark' Bivona (also spelled Bevona) was a member of the Genovese Family based in Lower Manhattan.
Older brother Vincent 'Jimmy Blink' Bivona (1908-1982) was also a Genovese member.
Born Pietro Bivone on February 26, 1912 in Manhattan to Accursio (43y) and Mary Sclafani (28y). Family from Sciacca comune of Agrigento, Sicily.
Over the next couple of decades the family resided in the borough's Little Italy neighborhood, first at 85 Elizabeth St (1920) and then at 16 Spring St (1939). Accursio worked as a fish peddler.
On February 12, 1939 Peter married Frances Dabbico (23y) in Manhattan. Bride's parents from Licodia Eubea and Caltagirone comunes of Catania, Sicily.
Older brother Vincent 'Jimmy Blink' Bivona (1908-1982) was also a Genovese member.
Born Pietro Bivone on February 26, 1912 in Manhattan to Accursio (43y) and Mary Sclafani (28y). Family from Sciacca comune of Agrigento, Sicily.
Over the next couple of decades the family resided in the borough's Little Italy neighborhood, first at 85 Elizabeth St (1920) and then at 16 Spring St (1939). Accursio worked as a fish peddler.
On February 12, 1939 Peter married Frances Dabbico (23y) in Manhattan. Bride's parents from Licodia Eubea and Caltagirone comunes of Catania, Sicily.
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| F. Celano |
Witnesses were Genovese Soldier Frank Celano (41y) and his wife Mary.
Born 1896 in Canna comune of Cosenza, Calabria, Celano resided at 86 Kenmare St in Little Italy, where he also ran a restaurant. In addition he owned an apple farm in Highland Falls, New York. His Captain at the time was probably Thomas 'Tommy Palmer' Greco.
By April 1940 Bivona and his wife were living at 65 2nd Ave in nearby East Village.
Peter owned a barber shop but within a couple of years he began selling jewelry in the Bowery neighborhood adjacent to Little Italy.
In April 1950 listed occupation as self-employed concession broker.
By 1958 Peter and his brother Vincent were both formally inducted members of the Genovese Family.
Their initial crew leader isn't known. Given the Sciacca heritage and Elizabeth Street roots, the brothers may have reported to Captain Vincenzo 'Jimmy Dimino' Generoso. (The Bivonas' paternal grandmother was a Dimino.)
By 1960 one or both of the brothers were possibly transferred to the recently promoted Frank Celano, who had previously witnessed Peter's marriage. Alternatively they may have been placed under Peter DeFeo, another recently appointed Captain whose crew was based in the neighborhood. (Little is known of Celano's crew and as noted below the Bivonas are later placed with DeFeo's regime. In addition Vincent was specifically identified by a member source in 1968 as a DeFeo crew member.)
On January 29, 1964 both Bivonas, under their nicknames, were included in the FBI's list of 23 recently identified Genovese members. (Some of those named were actually with other Families and at least one of those listed was not yet a member.)
On August 21, 1964 included in the FBI's list of identified Genovese members.
On October 20, 1967 the Bivonas were included in the FBI's list of suspected Gambino Family members. (This was not the only time Bivona was misidentified as a Gambino member.)
In September 1968 among 46 identified by FBI as suspected Genovese Family members. 209 listed as confirmed members.
In November 1969 included in the FBI's list of 216 identified Genovese Family members.
In October 1972 included in the FBI's list of 198 identified Genovese Family members.
In October 1973 included in the FBI's list of 190 identified Genovese Family members.
Born 1896 in Canna comune of Cosenza, Calabria, Celano resided at 86 Kenmare St in Little Italy, where he also ran a restaurant. In addition he owned an apple farm in Highland Falls, New York. His Captain at the time was probably Thomas 'Tommy Palmer' Greco.
By April 1940 Bivona and his wife were living at 65 2nd Ave in nearby East Village.
Peter owned a barber shop but within a couple of years he began selling jewelry in the Bowery neighborhood adjacent to Little Italy.
In April 1950 listed occupation as self-employed concession broker.
By 1958 Peter and his brother Vincent were both formally inducted members of the Genovese Family.
Their initial crew leader isn't known. Given the Sciacca heritage and Elizabeth Street roots, the brothers may have reported to Captain Vincenzo 'Jimmy Dimino' Generoso. (The Bivonas' paternal grandmother was a Dimino.)
By 1960 one or both of the brothers were possibly transferred to the recently promoted Frank Celano, who had previously witnessed Peter's marriage. Alternatively they may have been placed under Peter DeFeo, another recently appointed Captain whose crew was based in the neighborhood. (Little is known of Celano's crew and as noted below the Bivonas are later placed with DeFeo's regime. In addition Vincent was specifically identified by a member source in 1968 as a DeFeo crew member.)
On January 29, 1964 both Bivonas, under their nicknames, were included in the FBI's list of 23 recently identified Genovese members. (Some of those named were actually with other Families and at least one of those listed was not yet a member.)
On August 21, 1964 included in the FBI's list of identified Genovese members.
On October 20, 1967 the Bivonas were included in the FBI's list of suspected Gambino Family members. (This was not the only time Bivona was misidentified as a Gambino member.)
In September 1968 among 46 identified by FBI as suspected Genovese Family members. 209 listed as confirmed members.
In November 1969 included in the FBI's list of 216 identified Genovese Family members.
In October 1972 included in the FBI's list of 198 identified Genovese Family members.
In October 1973 included in the FBI's list of 190 identified Genovese Family members.
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| P. DeFeo |
That same month the FBI provided an outline of the Genovese Family hierarchy, naming Frank Tieri as the Boss and listing Peter DeFeo and thirteen other Captains. Identified DeFeo crew members included Peter Bivona, Vincent Bivona, Lorenzo 'Chappie' Brescio, Frank 'The Bug' Caruso, Cosmo 'Collie' DiPietro, George 'Flip' Filippone, Edward 'Eddie Buff' Lanzieri, Vincent 'Jimmy Jones' Potenza, Eli Zeccardi and Carmine 'Sonny Pinto' DiBiase. (Carmine DiBiase may not have been a member. Eli Zeccardi was by then the Family's Underboss, and a few of the others listed are typically identified with different crews in other reports, Bivona included.)
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| M. Generoso (1970s) |
By April 1974 identified by FBI CI as Soldier under Genovese Captain Michele 'Mickey Dimino' Generoso, son of the aforementioned Vincenzo.
Made members of Generoso's crew included Peter Bivona, Dominick 'Buddy' Cappolla, Cosmo DiPietro, Salvatore Lauro, Ernest Lazzara, Maurice 'Chubby' Longo and Eugene 'Gene the Tailor' Uricola. (Federal reports from both before and after this time period instead place Lazzara with the LaPlaca crew in New Jersey.)
Possible crew members included Paul 'Paulie Lefty' Della Universita and Joseph 'Little Joey' Giammarino.
In January 1977 included in the FBI's list of 198 identified Genovese Family members.
In June 1979 included in the FBI's list of 177 identified Genovese Family members.
That same month the FBI provided a breakdown of the Genovese Family hierarchy, naming Frank Tieri as Boss, Anthony 'Fat Tony' Salerno as Underboss and John 'Buster' Ardito as Consigliere. Matthew 'Matty the Horse' Ianniello was listed as Acting Underboss. Listed Captains included Peter DeFeo. Those named as DeFeo crew members included Peter Bivona, Vincent Bivona, Lorenzo Brescio and Edward Lanzieri. (The chart was out of date in at least one aspect: Harry Lanza, listed as a Captain, died in late 1977.)
Included in June 1983 Senate Chart of Gambino Family membership. Address shown as 385 Grand St in Little Italy.
Peter Bivona died in late May 1985 and was buried in Saint John Cemetery located in Middle Village, Queens.
Made members of Generoso's crew included Peter Bivona, Dominick 'Buddy' Cappolla, Cosmo DiPietro, Salvatore Lauro, Ernest Lazzara, Maurice 'Chubby' Longo and Eugene 'Gene the Tailor' Uricola. (Federal reports from both before and after this time period instead place Lazzara with the LaPlaca crew in New Jersey.)
Possible crew members included Paul 'Paulie Lefty' Della Universita and Joseph 'Little Joey' Giammarino.
In January 1977 included in the FBI's list of 198 identified Genovese Family members.
In June 1979 included in the FBI's list of 177 identified Genovese Family members.
That same month the FBI provided a breakdown of the Genovese Family hierarchy, naming Frank Tieri as Boss, Anthony 'Fat Tony' Salerno as Underboss and John 'Buster' Ardito as Consigliere. Matthew 'Matty the Horse' Ianniello was listed as Acting Underboss. Listed Captains included Peter DeFeo. Those named as DeFeo crew members included Peter Bivona, Vincent Bivona, Lorenzo Brescio and Edward Lanzieri. (The chart was out of date in at least one aspect: Harry Lanza, listed as a Captain, died in late 1977.)
Included in June 1983 Senate Chart of Gambino Family membership. Address shown as 385 Grand St in Little Italy.
Peter Bivona died in late May 1985 and was buried in Saint John Cemetery located in Middle Village, Queens.
More Genovese Family posts can be found in the Index.
