American noted family, the daughter of Sam Giancana, the most powerful and feared Mafia boss to run Chicago since Al Capone. As the author of “Mafia Princess,” 1985 (co-written with Thomas C. Renner), she delivered a gripping expose of her early life, a witness to murder and mayhem; her dad allegedly had eliminated more than 200 men by 1960.
Toni idolized her dad, a kindly, caring parent who never admitted to her or her sisters that he was a Mafioso. Business associates who often visited their home were generous, older gentlemen who greeted the kids with affection before closing the doors to private discussions that included criminal violence. Nonetheless, her early home was a fortress with the motto, “Trust no one.” Callers were screened, and once, her dad spanked her for opening the door without first checking on the person’s identity. Toni’s personal history eventually included suicide attempts, shock treatments, abortions and alcohol abuse.
She related the loss of her virginity in June 1950, just before her 15th birthday. Sex was not a subject that was discussed at home, so she requested a consultation with the Catholic priest, When she asked what happened between a man and a woman, “Father Joe” began to demonstrate. Their illicit affair continued for some time whenever she returned home from schooling or vacations, and led to a long line of men, great loves as well as quick flings. In the late summer of 1958, over three months pregnant, she had an abortion.
A beautiful girl, Toni posed in the February 1987 issue of Playboy magazine wearing bubbles in the bath and in a peignoir. She made a second marriage and settled in Chicago.
Her dad was finally murdered in 1975 by unknown persons. When her book was made into a film for television and she was not given a role, she declared that “Hollywood rat finks are scum, like my father used to say.”