#40: Interview with Xavier Eboli, Son of Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli

We’re diving deep into the life and legacy of one of the most notorious figures in the history of the Genovese Crime Family—Thomas “Tommy Ryan” Eboli. And who better to tell that story than his own son, Xavier Eboli?

Xavier Eboli, a Marine Corps veteran and author ofThe Boss in the Shadows: The Life and Death of Thomas ‘Tommy Ryan’ Eboli, joins me for an incredible two-hour conversation.

Together, we explore what it was like growing up as the son of a powerful mob boss, tracing his father’s journey from a young boxer and as a boxing manager to a feared underworld leader whose career ultimately ended in a hail of bullets in 1972.

We’ll also discuss Xavier’s own life—his time in the Marines, his evolving relationship with his father, and the lasting impact of his father’s murder.

Along the way, we touch on key figures like Vito Genovese, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Vincent ‘The Chin’ Gigante, Philip ‘Benny Squint’ Lombardo, and even Hollywood connections to Al Pacino and Al Lettieri.

So grab a drink, settle in, and get ready for an intimate, firsthand look at the life and death of one of the mob’s most infamous figures.

This is Xavier Eboli’s story, in his own words.

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We discuss many topics including:

• Xavier's upbringing and relationship with his father
• The early life of Thomas “Tommy Ryan” Eboli in Chicago and then New York
• Thomas Eboli's relationship with his father and eventual introduction to his Cosa Nostra mentor, Vito Genovese
• Eboli's boxing career as “Tommy Ryan”
• Eboli's introduction to the underworld in the 1920's and 1930's during Prohibition
• Thomas “Tommy Ryan” Eboli's career as a boxing manager and some of the fighters he managed including Tony Pellone and Rocky Castellani
• Eboli's 1952 ban from boxing due to the assault of a referee and promoter after a particularly heated bout
• Xavier's life growing up as Tommy Eboli's son and his entrance into the Marine Corps. in the early 1960's
• Xavier's chance meeting with Charles “Lucky” Luciano
• Stories from the infamous Copacobana nightclub
• Xavier's memories of notable mob figures including Vito Genovese, Vincent “The Chin” Gigante, Philip “Benny Squint” Lombardo, and others
• The circumstances of assassination of his father in 1972, the false Carlo Gambino drug rumor, and the aftermath
• We also touch on his uncle, Pasquale “Patsy Ryan” Eboli, their relationship, and his connections to the restaurant scene from The Godfather
• His uncle Pat's demotion and disappearance in 1976
• The last chilling conversation Xavier had with Vincent “The Chin” Gigante
• We cover Xavier's long life and career after the murders of his father and uncle
• We talk about his book, “Boss in the Shadows: The Life and Death of Thomas ‘Tommy Ryan’ Eboli”

Buy Xavier's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Boss-Shadows-Death-Thomas-Tommy/dp/B0DQM34JDM