Have you ever wondered how one man's death could trigger a cascade of events that reshaped the landscape of organized crime? The natural death of Aniello "Neil" Dellacroce in 1985 acted as a catalyst, setting in motion a chain reaction that ultimately led to the infamous Gambino family murders.

The passing of Neil Dellacroce, the underboss of the Gambino crime family, due to natural causes in 1985, created a significant power vacuum. This void directly precipitated the audacious assassinations of Gambino family boss Paul Castellano and underboss Thomas Bilotti on December 16, 1985, a brazen act of defiance that would forever alter the course of Mafia history.

Aniello "Neil" Dellacroce: Biographical and Career Highlights
Full Name	Aniello Dellacroce
Nickname	Neil
Date of Birth	March 15, 1914
Date of Death	December 2, 1985
Cause of Death	Lung Cancer
Age at Death	71
Nationality	American
Mafia Family	Gambino crime family
Years Active	1965-1985 (as Underboss)
Predecessor as Underboss	Joseph Biondo
Successor as Underboss	Frank DeCicco
Key Affiliations	Carlo Gambino, Paul Castellano, John Gotti
Mentor To	John Gotti
Significant Events	His death in 1985 created a power vacuum that led to the assassination of Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti.
Legacy	Remembered as a powerful and respected figure within the Gambino crime family.
Reference Link	MafiaMember.com - Aniello Dellacroce