Nanianella “Anna” Russo grew up in Coney Island, Brooklyn in 1904 to two immigrants from Naples. At a young age she placed illegal pari mutuel gambling bets for “important people” in the neighborhood while effortlessly progressing to selling illegal moonshine. Like so many Neapolitan women she was clever, resourceful and didn’t take shit from anyone. The center of her family's universe and more times than not, the sole provider.

South Brooklyn in the beginning of the 20th century had a large Italian and Jewish population which were immigrating from post war Europe to escape a World war or famine. Anna, as she would later become known by the local community, worked on Ellis Island and was responsible for translating and helping immigrants transition into New York from their native lands. Anna spoke English, Italian, Neapolitan, Sicilian and Yiddish. She was one of the first women in New York to receive a driver's license, habitually changed car tires while men laughed in disbelief, raised five kids and fed an army every night. She bought a brownstone in Coney Island by herself where she so elegantly rubbed elbows with the Profoci family captains on Sundays. Annas job was a “Corriere,” or a “Runner,” meaning she was the least conspicuous person in the neighborhood who could freely deliver and pick up deliveries for the Genovese family.