"Olive Oil King" Joseph Profaci
Joseph Profaci was characterized as “one of the most powerful underworld figures in the United States” by Robert F. Kennedy during his tenure as US Attorney General. Born in Palermo, Profaci was the first boss of the crime family, which initially bore his name-ruling from 1931 to 1962- and later became the Colombo family. During Profaci’s reign, he was arrested several times, but unlike many of his cohorts, he never served time in an American prison. Often referred to as the “olive oil king,” Profaci ran the Mama Mia Importing Company, a leading olive oil and tomato paste importer. Profaci died from liver cancer in 1962 at the age of 64 and is buried in St. John Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens, among a plethora of well-known organized crime figures. Said to be the most devout Catholic of Mafia leaders, Profaci had an altar constructed in his home. His private mausoleum references his religious beliefs as well: A figure of Jesus, with arms outstretched, adorns the door, while a scu...