nicholas santora was born on june 21, 1942, and became known in his teens as a tough mobster from new york city. he was the son of modesto santora, a sidewalk soldier for the colombo crime family under boss joseph magliocco. originally a member of a youth gang, santora became a made man along with mobsters dominick "sonny black" napolitano, benjamin "lefty" ruggiero and joseph "big joey" massino in the mid 1970s.