John Gotti, the notorious “Dapper Don,” commanded the Gambino crime family with an iron fist, becoming a figure synonymous with organized crime. Yet, behind the headlines and the infamy, there was a family, and at its center, his wife, Victoria DiGiorgio. Their relationship, beginning in youthful romance and enduring through decades of turmoil and public scrutiny, offers a compelling glimpse into the personal life of one of America’s most infamous mob bosses. Who was Victoria DiGiorgio, the woman who stood by John Gotti through it all?
From Brooklyn Sweethearts to a Mob Marriage
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Their story began in 1958 in a New York bar, a chance encounter between a young John Gotti, then 18, and Victoria DiGiorgio, just 16. Born on December 5, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, Victoria’s heritage was a blend of Russian and Italian roots. Despite her youth, she already had a child from a previous relationship when she met Gotti. However, the connection between them was undeniable, leading to their marriage on March 6, 1962. FBI documents mention Victoria’s prior child, a detail she has consistently kept private, reflecting her general aversion to media attention throughout her life.
Motherhood Amidst Mob Life
Following their marriage, Victoria DiGiorgio embraced the role of a stay-at-home mother, dedicating herself to raising their growing family. Together, she and John Gotti had five children: Angela, Victoria, John Jr., Frank, and Peter. Family life for the Gottis, however, was far from conventional, constantly shadowed by the realities of John’s escalating involvement in the Gambino crime family.
Tragedy struck the family in 1980 when their second youngest son, Frank Gotti, was killed in a traffic accident at the age of 12. Victoria Gotti, in her memoir “This Family of Mine,” recounted the devastating event. Frank was riding a minibike in a construction site when he was struck by a car driven by neighbor John Favara. The driver, allegedly intoxicated, continued driving with Frank trapped beneath the vehicle. Victoria vividly recalled her father’s profound grief, noting that telling her mother about Frank’s death was the “hardest thing he ever had to do,” revealing a rare glimpse of vulnerability from the formidable mob boss.
Grief, Loyalty, and Enduring Support
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Frank’s death plunged Victoria DiGiorgio into deep depression. Victoria Gotti described her mother as “deeply medicated” in the aftermath of the tragedy, highlighting the immense emotional toll it took on her. Fueled by grief and rage, DiGiorgio reportedly confronted John Favara, armed with a baseball bat, and attacked his car in a fit of despair, though she did not physically harm him.
Later that year, the Gotti family sought refuge in Florida to help Victoria cope with her overwhelming grief. During their absence, John Favara disappeared, and was legally declared dead in absentia in 1983. Rumors and accusations surrounding Gotti’s involvement in Favara’s disappearance persisted for years, culminating in public accusations in 2001. Despite the strong suspicions, and the fact that Favara’s body was never found, John Gotti was never charged in connection with the case.
Throughout John Gotti’s tumultuous life, marked by criminal activity, trials, and imprisonment, Victoria DiGiorgio remained steadfastly loyal. She publicly defended her husband and maintained her privacy, shielding herself and her family from the intense media scrutiny that followed the “Teflon Don.” In a rare interview with the New York Post in 1999, she articulated her unwavering commitment: “I have spent 39 years of my life with him and God willing, I will spend the next 39 years of my life with him… Is John a saint? Oh, no, I don’t think so. But I love him.”
Life After John Gotti
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John Gotti died in prison in 2002. Estimates from the documentary “Get Gotti” suggest that Victoria DiGiorgio inherited approximately $2 million following his death. Despite the public nature of her husband’s life and legacy, Victoria DiGiorgio has continued to maintain a low profile in the years since. Her story is a testament to the complexities of loyalty and love in the face of extraordinary circumstances, forever intertwined with the life of John Gotti, the infamous mob boss, and the family they built together.
Victoria DiGiorgio’s life story offers a poignant counterpoint to the sensationalized narrative of John Gotti’s criminal empire. She was not merely “John Gotti’s wife,” but a woman who navigated motherhood, tragedy, and the relentless glare of public attention with resilience and unwavering devotion to her family. Her enduring loyalty to John Gotti, despite his notorious reputation, remains a central aspect of her identity, solidifying her place in the complex tapestry of the Gotti saga.
