Bilotti Family History & Genealogy

Over the years, Bilotti became a close aide-de-camp, confidant and chauffeur for capo Paul Castellano. Bilotti was a regular visitor to Castellano’s Todt Hill, Staten Island mansion and was considered a close family friend. However, when Castellano started an affair with his maid, Bilotti kept it secret from Castellano’s wife. He would also act as his chauffeur. Bilotti and Castellano were said to make an odd pair. Castellano, a gangster who thought himself more as a businessman, and Bilotti, a brutish loan shark. Bilotti had a no-show job at Scara-Mix, Castellano’s cement company on Staten Island. He was also heavily involved in the Steam Fitters Local 638 of the Plumbers Union that was represented by George Daly, an associate who belonged to his crew. Daly served as Local 638’s business agent until his 1987 conviction for soliciting bribes to ensure labor peace. When Castellano became Gambino boss in 1976, he gave Bilotti a crew to manage. Many members of the Gambino family were contemptuous of Bilotti and considered him to be Castellano’s stooge. This attitude was widespread in the traditional, “blue collar” wing of the family, led by underboss Aniello Dellacroce. This wing considered Castellano to be greedy and out of touch of with their concerns. On December 2, 1985 Gambino underboss Aniello Dellacroce died of cancer. Immediately after his death, Castellano decided to appoint Bilotti as the new underboss. News of the Bilotti promotion, along with a perceived slight to the Dellacroce family by Castellano, stirred up considerable anger in the family. Capo John Gotti and Salvatore Gravano orchestrated a plan to kill both Castellano and Bilotti. Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano planned to murder Bilotti. One idea was to have associate Joseph Watts tell his wife that he wanted his house painted, and they would put up plastic on the walls and floor to protect it from “paint”. Then sometime early in the morning Watts would call to arrange a meeting with Bilotti. Watts would open the door for Bilotti and walk him into the home’s front corridor. Gravano would hide in the archway with Frank DeCicco. As Bilotti would walk past, Gravano would step out and shoot him in the head. They would then discard the plastic and body. DeCicco would then go up to Paul Castellano’s home and tell him Bilotti called in sick so he would act as Castellano’s replacement driver. Then, DeCicco would shoot Castellano when he was in his car. But after some cautious thinking, Gravano and DeCicco thought that it was too haphazard of a plan. A few minutes before 6:00 p.m. on December 16, 1985 Bilotti chauffeured Paul Castellano to where they were ambushed outside Sparks Steak House in Manhattan, apparently on the orders of caporegime John Gotti. He pulled his black Lincoln right up in front of the restaurant. As Castellano began exiting the car, two gunmen (including Tony Rampino) walked up and fired at least six bullets at him, including a final shot to his head. As Bilotti stepped out, he was approached by the other shooters. Gambino crime family mob associate Anthony Rampino shot Bilotti six times in the head and chest after Castellano was gunned down. The fatal meeting was arranged by Frank DeCicco, James Failla, Gene Gotti and Armando Dellacroce, the son of former Gambino crime family underboss Aniello Dellacroce, who were against the age-old ban on narcotics as a business option. Bilotti and Castellano most certainly saw their approaching executioners before being shot dead. From descriptions of the shooters given by witnesses, including a pedestrian who witnessed the shooting from only a few feet away, police detectives believe it was John Gotti associate Anthony Rampino who gunned down Bilotti as he was getting out of his black Lincoln. After the shooting, an off-duty registered nurse went to Bilotti’s aid in a vain attempt to revive him. Police found Bilotti to be in possession of $6,300 at the time of his death and was not armed. Thomas Bilotti is buried fifty yards away from Castellano in the Moravian Cemetery of New Dorp, Staten Island. Bilotti left behind ten children, including a six-week old baby son. Bilotti’s wife Donna suffered a nervous breakdown and a miscarriage. Gotti appointed Frank DeCicco as his new underboss. Gambino associate Joseph Watts wanted Gotti to kill Bilotti’s brother Joseph because he might seek revenge. However, Gravano persuaded Gotti that Joseph would accept his brother’s death. On April 2, 1992, John Gotti was convicted in the 1985 Bilotti and Castellano murders. He was later sentenced to life in federal prison.

Frank M Bilotti of Whittier, Los Angeles County, California was born on September 27, 1915, and died at age 63 years old in February 1979.

Frank Bilotti of La Habra, Orange County, CA was born on November 29, 1918, and died at age 78 years old on September 19, 1997.

Anthony J Bilotti of Brooklyn, Kings County, NY was born on April 15, 1916, and died at age 65 years old in November 1981.

Anthony P Bilotti of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA was born on November 2, 1922, and died at age 85 years old on July 4, 2008.

Carmine V Bilotti of Neptune, Monmouth County, NJ was born on February 26, 1919, and died at age 90 years old on October 10, 2009.

Albert Bilotti of Brooklyn, Kings County, NY was born on March 25, 1909, and died at age 82 years old in December 1991.

Peter F Bilotti of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA was born on April 13, 1927, and died at age 80 years old on January 27, 2008.

Pete M Bilotti of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA was born on September 28, 1909, and died at age 77 years old in February 1987.

Valentino Bilotti of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania was born on April 12, 1912, and died at age 64 years old in April 1976.

Louis F Bilotti of Staten Island, Richmond County, NY was born on May 1, 1923, and died at age 69 years old on May 14, 1992.

Sabato G Bilotti of Staten Island, Richmond County, NY was born on November 25, 1915 in Italy or San Marino, and died at age 64 years old in July 1980.

Matthew L Bilotti of Staten Island, Richmond County, NY was born on May 28, 1921, and died at age 82 years old on August 19, 2003.

Alfred J Bilotti of Matawan, Monmouth County, NJ was born on August 12, 1914, and died at age 96 years old on November 17, 2010. Alfred Bilotti was buried at Bg William C Doyle Vet's Mem Cem Section P Site 2086 350 Provinceline Road, in Wrightstown.

Daniel C Bilotti of Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, WI was born on April 16, 1922, and died at age 79 years old on March 31, 2002.

Silio J Bilotti of Woonsocket, Providence County, RI was born on May 8, 1918, and died at age 81 years old on September 17, 1999.

John Bilotti of Shirley, Suffolk County, NY was born on September 15, 1924, and died at age 80 years old on July 29, 2005. John Bilotti was buried at Calverton National Cemetery Section 26 Site 1409 210 Princeton Boulevard - Rt 25, in Calverton.

Edward C Bilotti of Staten Island, Richmond County, NY was born on September 29, 1919, and died at age 74 years old on September 22, 1994. Edward Bilotti was buried at Calverton National Cemetery Section 66 Site 3356 210 Princeton Boulevard - Rt 25, in Calverton.

Salvatrice L Bilotti of Shirley, Suffolk County, NY was born on December 25, 1928, and died at age 69 years old on August 26, 1998. Salvatrice Bilotti was buried at Calverton National Cemetery Section 26 Site 1409 210 Princeton Boulevard - Rt 25, in Calverton.

Anthony Joseph Bilotti was born on March 19, 1955, and died at age 24 years old on December 6, 1979. Anthony Bilotti was buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery Section MA Site 135 1300 Sneath Lane, in San Bruno, Ca. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Anthony Joseph Bilotti.