John T. Scalish



John T. Scalish (September 18, 1912 – May 26, 1976) was an Ohio mobster who became the boss of the Cleveland crime family. Scalish was the brother-in-law of Philadelphia crime family boss Angelo Bruno and Cleveland mob associate Milton Rockman.

In 1944, Scalish succeeded the retiring Alfred Polizzi as head of the Cleveland family; Scalish would remain boss for the next 32 years. Under Scalish, the Cleveland family created new operations in the casinos of Las Vegas, Nevada, and in other rackets in California. In 1957, Scalish attended the infamous Cosa Nostra Apalachin Conference in Apalachin, New York that was raided by law enforcement.

On May 26, 1976 John Scalish died during heart surgery.