I’ve written here before about Angela Grizzaffi and my Cascio ancestors from Corleone, and about the olive oil business my great-grandparents ran from their kitchen in East Harlem. This past week, in preparation for an interview with Bob Sorrentino of the Italian Genealogy blog, I took another look at the immigration records of the Soldano side of the family and found a chain of migration that led to two distinct enclaves of mafiosi from Corleone: one in the New York City neighborhood where my Cascio and Soldano ancestors lived, and another in the Little Sicily neighborhood that once existed in Chicago.
I’ll write more about this soon. Meanwhile, if you want to read more about the early Mafia in Chicago, check out my last post on Joe Aiello. If you’d like to see me talking with Bob Sorrentino about what spurs my genealogy research, and what distinguishes old school gangsters from the New Mafia, you can listen or watch here.
Mafia Genealogy 
Hello Justin,
My name Al Leonardi. Bob Sorrentino and I have been friends for almost 50 years. I’ve begun browsing your web site…very interesting.
My grandmother’s name was Cascio from Santa Margherita Belice in Sicily. Perhaps a connection?
Best,
Al
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Hi Al, thanks for visiting. Cascio is a fairly common and very widespread name in the Italian diaspora and can be found throughout Italy. We’re not likely to be related, as my Cascio relatives are all from Corleone and I don’t have any ties to Santa Margherita Belice. Have you done any work on your family tree?
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Hi. Was watching your show. I was adopted/born in 1967. My biological father’s family were 1st Gen Sicilians (Sorrentino) I met my bio dad once. I absolutely love and identify with my Sicilian side. And I may consider retiring there.
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There are communities online that will help you through the dual citizenship process if that’s something you’re considering in your retirement plan. Visiting Sicily is still on my bucket list.
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