Cersani was born in Knickerbocker Village, a public housing project on the Lower East Side, Manhattan. As a young man, John was a legendary figure in his neighborhood. He would leap from the high-rise apartment complex building fire escapes and dive into the East River. John was not a womanizer and was married faithfully for over twenty years to his wife Nancy, with whom he fathered several children. He also was a grandfather of six. John was taller and lean, balding at the temples and had a hawk-like face.He had an introverted personality, usually keeping to himself and demonstrated a higher intellect. Although Cersani was skinny and lean, he was extremely strong. On May 5, 1981 after the murder of rival Bonanno capos Alphonse Indelicato, Phillip Giaccone and Dominick Trinchera, Cersani l