Retirement & Death
During his retirement, Costello was known as "The Prime Minister of the Underworld." He still retained power and influence in New York's Mafia and remained busy throughout his final years. Cosa Nostra bosses and old associates such as Carlo Gambino and Tommy Lucchese still paid visits to Costello at his Waldorf Astoria penthouse, seeking advice on important Mafia affairs. Costello's old friend, Meyer Lansky, kept in touch with him. Costello occupied himself with gardening and displayed some of his flowers at local horticultural shows.
In early February, 1973, Costello suffered a heart attack at his Manhattan home and was rushed to Doctors Hospital hospital in Manhattan. On February 18, 1973, after 11 days in the hospital, Frank Costello died.
Costello's sedate funeral service at a Manhattan funeral home was attended by 50 relatives, friends, and law enforcement agents. Costello is buried in Saint Michael's Cemetery in East Elmhurst, Queens.
As a testament to Costello's fame and influence, Carmine Galante ordered the bombing of Frank Costello's burial site soon after his release from prison in 1974. By blasting the bronze doors off Costello's mausoleum, Galante announced his return to the New York Cosa Nostra scene and finally achieved revenge on his old enemy.
Read more about this topic: Frank Costello
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