Sereno (Bobby T) Tartamella

Sereno (Bobby T) Tartamell was the son of Bonanno consigliere John Tartamella and a soldier in the Family who would serve as a "courier" between Stefano Magaddino and Gaspare DiGregorio .

Sereno (Bobby T) Tartamella was born in 1922 and raised at 75 Bay 13th St. in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. He later resided at 37 Gildare Drive in East Northport, Long Island. He was a Bonanno soldier and the son of Consigliere Giovanni (John) Tartamella.

He was also related by marriage to Acting Boss Gaspare DiGregorio, Buffalo Boss Stefano Magaddino, Bonanno soldiers James Genna and Francesco Tartamella, who was a cousin from Castellammare del Golfo and a Bonanno soldier.

His induction to soldier was by virtue of his Family connections (birthright) as opposed to “cutting his teeth” on the streets, so to speak.

As a trusted member of the Family, he would serve in the capacity as “courier” between Magaddino and Di Gregorio during the height of the Bonanno war, traveling back and forth to Buffalo and NYC as required to pass messages.

He was not a street hoodlum, never in the rackets per se, and as such was not a “gunsel,” so he was trusted.

As John Tartamella’s son, he was placed in the Beauty Culturist Union - Local #1551-A (Independent) serving as secretary/treasurer for Joe Bonanno and his father John.

Back in the late 1930s, John Tartamella had started the Union. It was first named the Barber's Guild then the Beauticians Union, eventually morphing into the Beauty Culturist Union.

Sereno took his father's place in the union as his father grew older and later had a stroke. With virtually no police record, the Bonanno administration promoted him to run for public office. He was a Liberal Party Candidate for Huntington Town Justice of the Peace in 1946.

Two years earlier, law enforcement identified him as mob-linked. He served first under his father then Di Gregorio. His Capodecina was Nicholas (Nick the Battler) DeStefano.

During the hostilities of Bonanno gang warfare, he was summoned to testify before both local and federal grand juries in Nassau and Brooklyn. Tartamella was one of approximately a dozen mob figures to “clam up” refusing to testify.

All were arrested for criminal contempt of court. Among the mob figures were such luminaries as Pasquale Gigante, Salvatore and John Morale, Michael Consolo, Anthony Lisi, Philip Rastelli, and others. Most received 30 days in county jail.

In later years, after stepping down from his union post, Bobby ran a used car lot on Long Island, among other endeavors. His father, uncles, and cousins were either dead or retired by that time.

He eased into retirement, spending his time mostly at his East Northport Long Island home and business.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Sereno (Bobby T) Tartamella

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Sereno (Bobby T) Tartamella

Often Imitated. Never Duplicated. Button Guys of The New York Mafia...There's Only One!

Tour the Underworld with Button Guys

Dive Deeper into the Underworld

Dominick Trinchera and the Three Capos Murder

Matteo (Matty) Valvo

Joseph Zummo

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