WARNING: EXPLICIT MATERIAL

Cesare Bonventre

AKA:

The Tall Guy

Birth Name:

Cesare Bonventre

Birth Date:

January 1, 1951

Birth Place:

Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Italy

Death Date:

April 16, 1984

Place of Death:

Glue factory, Wallington, New Jersey.

Age:

Cause of Death:

Mob hit - gunshot wounds

Cemetery Name:

St. Charles Resurrection Cemeteries

Claim to Fame:

Crime and their Victims

As a member of the Sicilian faction of the Bonnano family, Cesare Bonventre worked as a bodyguard for the unofficial boss Carmine Galante. Several members of his family were involved with organized crime, including his uncle John Bonventre, a former Bonanno underboss and his cousins Baldassare “Baldo” Amato and the first family boss Joseph Bonanno. The lean and handsome Bonventre was known as “The Tall Guy” because he stood close to six feet seven inches tall. He was often seen with his shirt unbuttoned with a gold crucifix hanging from his neck. Bonventre was described by one author as having something about him that made him stand out from the other ethnic Italians. He wore stylish clothing, aviator sunglasses and carried European made man purses that embodied Italian couture and frequented clubs such as The Toyland Social Club and the Knickerbocker Avenue area with other Sicilia mobsters. While he may be best remembered for setting up his boss, Carmine "Cigar" Galante, along with associate Baldo Amato for one of the most infamous murders in American mafia, he eventually was murdered himself in a glue factory in New Jersey.

Why was Cesare Bonventre Killed by His Own Family?

There has been much speculation on why Bonventre was murdered by his own crime family. Being a tough killer from Sicily related to Joe Bonanno, handsome and popular with the zips, smart, charismatic didn’t help any. Joey Massino, Bonventre and Amato were shaking down drug dealers tied to the family, particularly one associate named Anthony Aiello, who went to Rastelli to complain. Rastelli called a sit down, and Bonventre denied it and promptly left (which you would never do if you wanted to live).

Cesare “The Tall Guy” Bonventre was not 6′-7″ in height. He was actually 6′-1″ tall which, for a Sicilian, is unheard of in the old country.

Upon his execution, Cesare left behind a wife, newborn son and a trail of 20 or so murders to his credit.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

St. Charles Resurrection Cemeteries

2015 Wellwood Avenue

Farmingdale, New York, 11735

USA

North America

Map:

Map of St. Charles / Resurrection Cemetery in Long Island, New York

Grave Location:

Section 46, Row L, Grave 114

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery drive directly towards the center of the cemetery. Veer towards the left and park at the intersection of 39, 41 and 46. Walk across the street to Section 46 and look for the upright memorial with name “Costa” closest to the road. Walk 16 memorials into Section 46 from the road and you will find the grave of mafia associate The Tall Guy Bonventre.