Albert Anastasia, one of the most notorious figures of organized crime belonging to the Italian-American Mafia, passed away on October 25, 1957 at the age of 55. He began his career as a crime boss in New York City during the 1920s and is widely remembered for his association with the "Murder, Inc." group of hitmen. Anastasia held a number of important leadership roles within the Mafia – first as the leader of the feared Mangano crime family and then as the founder of the "Commission," an organization designed to oversee relations between different Mafia factions in the United States. His reputation for brutality led to his nickname of "The Mad Hatter," and he was also known for his flair with charisma and manipulation of others to achieve his goals. His esteemed criminal career was ended when he was assassinated by two gunmen at a New York City barbershop. His death shook the criminal underworld and furthered the cause of law enforcement who had considered him one of the most powerful figures in organized crime. He will be remembered as one of the most feared and respected figures the Mafia had ever known.