John Riggi, Chief of NJ Crime Family Dies At 90

Archetypal mobster: John M Riggi took the helm of the DeCavalcante crime family in 1988 and 'turned labor racketeering into an art form'. He ordered murders from behind bars but was beloved in the community.

[From article]
The convicted leader of a New Jersey crime family who inspired The Sopranos TV show has died.
John M Riggi, 90, ran the DeCavalcante crime family for more than two decades - even ordering murders and receiving payments while in prison for extortion and murder.
Under his ruthless rule, the gang developed labor racketeering into an art form, crime experts say.
But unlike the character Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini, he was also a beloved member of the community.
[. . .]
He died on Monday at his home in Edison, Corsentino Home for Funerals said. A cause of death wasn't disclosed.
Officially, he was the longtime business agent for Local 394 of the Laborers International Union of North America.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3186209/Convicted-leader-noted-New-Jersey-crime-family-dies-90.html

onvicted leader of New Jersey crime family who inspired Tony Soprano has died aged 90, marking 'the end of a mobster generation'
John M Riggi ran the DeCavalcante crime family for two decades
Ordered murders from behind bars, made labor racketeering 'an art form'
He was the inspiration for James Gandolfini's ruthless character
But detectives say he was a beloved figure, unlike fictional Tony Soprano
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Daily Mail (UK)
PUBLISHED: 14:00 EST, 5 August 2015 | UPDATED: 04:17 EST, 6 August 2015