From Prohibition to the War on Drugs and the Mafia Commission Trial in the 1980s, the mob and the cartels had a heck of a run in American life for roughly 70 years.
But it can’t all be murder, drugs, and racketeering, can it?! As ruthless as these career crooks are, they must show a softer side once in a while. In mob movies, we see them laughing it up with friends and going home to their wives and kids like any other working men.
Here are 15 softer, sometimes quirkier moments in organized crime.
1
Bill Cutolo was involved with many charities.
This underboss of the Colombo crime family was a fundraising chairman for the National Leukemia Research Association. He dressed up as Santa for the children every year and in 1988 was named National Leukemia Association's Man of the Year.
2
The Pinball Crime Boss
When pinball was made illegal across the U.S. in the 1940s, underground rings sprouted up nationwide. James B. Elkin ran Portland's underground pinball racket.
3
The Oddfather
Vincent "The Chin" Gigante was the boss of the Genovese crime family in NYC. He wandered the streets in pajamas and mumbled incoherently for 30 years to help avoid prosecution.
4
Al Capone's Soup Kitchen
During the Great D, Al Capone ran a soup kitchen at 935 South State Street in Chicago. He provided free meals to the unemployed and needy, serving 3 meals a day to thousands of Chicagoans.
5
Pablo Escobar's Hippos
When Escobar's compound was seized, many of his exotic animals went to zoos. For some reason, the hippos were set free and it is said that over 70 still roam the marshlands.
6
A "Family" Affair
In 1971, crime boss Joe Colombo personally removed the word "mafia" from "The Godfather" script and replaced the word with "family."
7
The Cartel Is Going Green
Mexican cartels evade police by communicating through encrypted radio stations. They went green by powering the radio towers with solar panels nationwide.
8
Al Capone Played The Banjo In A Band
As an inmate in Alcatraz, Capone formed the band "The Rock Islanders," and performed regular concerts on Sundays. It is said that he also also played the mandolin and the ukulele.
9
Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo
Said to be the influence for Tony Soprano, Palermo was the de facto boss of the DeCavalcante crime family of North Jersey. He was very protective of children, once stopping a man from beating his son, and rescuing a toddler from drowning. A dedicated family man, he drove his daughters to Brownie meetings and watched "Annie" with them regularly.
10
Clean Slate Tattoo Removals
The LA based tattoo removal shop "Clean Slate" offers significantly discounted rates for removing gang tattoos. Their slogan is "Empowering people to rebuild their lives."
11
Thomas Gambino
This longtime Capo of the Gambino crime family founded the Gambino Medical & Science Foundation. His initial gift of $2.5 million helped Cohen Children’s become a leader in pediatric cancer and blood disorders by bringing the region’s first pediatric bone marrow transplant unit to the hospital.
12
Lee Chao-Hsiung
This Taiwanese mafia boss willed almost $2 million to charity upon his death, demonstrating a final act of goodwill.
13
The Yakuza
When a massive tsunami hit Japan in 2011, the Yakuza - a brutal organized crime syndicate - aided people in the Kobe region by transporting food, water, and medical supplies to emergency centers.
14
Barrio Pablo Escobar
Despite his immense violence, he spent millions constructing an entire neighborhood for the poor in Medellín, providing housing, schools, sanitation, and soccer fields.
15
Al Capone lobbied for expiration dates on milk
After his niece fell ill from consuming spoiled milk, Al Capone pressured the government to be stricter on food safety. While labelling wouldn't occur until decades later, many say his influence got the ball rolling.
