Ruggiero's father was a first generation immigrant from Torre de Ruggiero in Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy who was not involved in organized crime. Ruggiero's mother was Mary Dellacroce, the sister of Gambino crime family underboss Aniello Dellacroce. Ruggiero's brother was Gambino associate Salvatore Ruggiero and the brother of John Ruggiero born June 9, 1946 and Francis A. "Little Frankie" Ruggiero born c.a. 1964. Ruggiero's nephew is mob associate Salvatore Ruggiero, Jr. His cousins include Gambino associate Armond Dellacroce and Sean and Shannon Connelly. Ruggiero is also a distant relative to John Gotti through John and Aniello's shared mistress, Shannon Connelly.