Joseph Colombo

Joseph Anthony Colombo Sr. was born on June 16, 1923, in New York City, into a family with deep ties to organized crime. His father was an early member of the Profaci crime family, setting the stage for Colombo's own rise within the criminal underworld. By the early 1960s, Colombo had become a significant figure in the mob, particularly during the tumultuous period known as the First Colombo War, which erupted in 1961 following the kidnapping of four high-ranking members of the Profaci family by Joe Gallo.

Colombo's ascent to power was marked by a series of strategic moves. After the death of family leader Joe Profaci in 1962, Colombo played a pivotal role in thwarting an assassination plot orchestrated by Joseph Bonanno and Joseph Magliocco. By revealing the plot to its intended targets, Colombo not only saved lives but also secured his position as the new boss of the Profaci family, which was later renamed the Colombo crime family.

In 1970, Colombo founded the Italian-American Civil Rights League, aiming to combat the negative stereotypes associated with Italian-Americans. The following year, he organized the first Italian Unity Day rally in Columbus Circle, which sought to protest against federal persecution. However, tensions escalated when Gallo, released from prison in 1971, rejected Colombo's peace offering, leading to the outbreak of the Second Colombo War.

Tragedy struck on June 28, 1971, when Colombo was shot three times at the second Italian Unity Day rally. The assailant, Jerome Johnson, was killed by Colombo's bodyguards, but the shooting left Colombo paralyzed. Despite his injuries, he continued to be a prominent figure until his death from cardiac arrest on May 22, 1978, a consequence of the wounds he sustained.