John J. Vitale was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1909,[3] the eldest of eight children of Joseph Vitale, Sr. and Mary Theresa Bovacanti.[4] Both of Vitale's parents were born in Sicily; his father in Trapani[4] and his mother in Termini Imerese.[5] They immigrated to the United States a few years before John was born.[6]
During the Great Depression he worked as an usher at the Ambassador Theater where he met movie actress Ginger Rogers; the two became lifelong friends.[3]
On September 8, 1929, he married Fara Marie Sharamitaro,[7] the daughter of Giuseppe Sharamitaro (also spelled Ciaramitaro) and Rosaria Bommarito.[8][9][10][11] Together, they had four children.[12]
After Fara died in July 1973 John married Mildred Joyce Allen on August 4th 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They moved back to Saint Louis, Missouri to start their family together, Including Mary Michelle Vitale, who was age 13 at the time.
Vitale's arrest record began circa 1920, though he was rarely convicted.[2] For example, in 1934, he was a suspect in the death of Mike Palazzolo.[13] According to St. Louis investigative reporter John Auble, Palazzolo allegedly had an ongoing quarrel with a man named Walter Mushenick. In May 1934, Mushenick assaulted Palazzolo's girlfriend Delphine, slapping her in the face. After Delphine informed Palazzolo of the assault, Palazzolo stated that, "he was going to get even with Mushenick..."[14] Witnesses stated that when Palazzolo left his parents' house to visit a friend, Vitale arrived and waited for him to return. After returning home, Palazzolo left with Vitale in Vitale's car. That was the last time Palazzolo was seen alive. The coroner determined that Palozzolo was shot twice with a .38 caliber, a single shot through the head and neck, and another in the chest.[13] Though a warrant was issued for his arrest, Vitale was exonerated of the murder.[15]
St. Louis crime family
Little is known of Vitale's early years in the syndicate, as he was known for keeping a low profile. His last run in with the law was in 1980 when he was arrested for having US$30,000 in his pocket.[16][17]
Sonny Liston affair
The St. Louis crime family held financial interests in the career of Sonny Liston, a professional boxer. According to both FBI and newspaper reports, Vitale, in addition to other underworld crime figures, "reportedly controlled Liston's contract,"[18] by owning approximately twelve percent of the boxer's contract.[19] However, when a congressional committee inquired into the matter, he refused to answer any questions.[20]
Other activities
Vitale was sent to federal prison once on a narcotics charge during the 1950s.[2] In 1958, he was charged with the federal crime of transporting firearms across state lines, which he appealed.[21] In February 1959, he was called to testify regarding mafia-controlled coin machine rackets, but invoked the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution against self-incrimination.[22] In 1977, he was charged with assault and sentenced to the St. Louis City workhouse.[2]
Final days
Two sources claim that Vitale later became an FBI informant following the death of boss Anthony "Tony G." Giordano.[23][24] However, no evidence has been provided to substantiate this claim. Further, Vitale remained the boss after Giordano's death, dying of natural causes in St. Louis as an elderly man. He died on June 5, 1982[24] and was buried on June 9, 1982 in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis.[25] He was preceded in death by his wife Fara, who was buried on July 20, 1973 in Calvary Cemetery.[26]
Ancestors of John Joseph Vitale
16.
8.
17.
4. John Vitale
18.
9.
19.
2. Joseph Vitale, Sr.
20.
10.
21.
5. Theresa Toia
22.
11.
23.
1. John Joseph Vitale
24.
12. Salvatore Bovaconti
25.
6. Joseph Bovacanti
26.
13. Maria Masitio
27.
3. Mary Theresa Bovacanti
28. Marco Cianciolo
14. Giuseppe Nicolo Cianciolo
29. Cosima da Vinci
7. Marie Cianciolo
30. Lorenzo Palmisano
15. Anna Agostina Palmisano
31. Mary Ardizzone Caito
References
^Walsh, Denny (May 29, 1970). "Investigative Report: A Two-Faced Crime Fight in St. Louis". Life Magazine Pp. 30.
^ abcdAssociated Press. "John Vitale, Organized Crime Leader in St. Louis, Dies at 73." Chicago Tribune, June 7, 1982, pp. D13
^ abAuble, John (2002). A History of St. Louis Gangsters. St. Louis, Missouri: The National Criminal Research Society. Pp. 26.
^ abRandazzo, Andy T. "Joseph Vitale Genealogy". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^Randazzo, Andy T."Maria Theresa Bovacanti Genealogy". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^John Vitale household, 1910 U.S. Census, St. Louis City, Mo., pop sch, Ward 4, ED 68, SD 68, sh. 6B, dw. 111, fl. 117; NA microfilm T624, roll 813.
^Randazzo, Andy T."Fara Marie Sharamitaro Genealogy". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^Giuseppe Ciramitaro, death certificate no. 24411 (1951). Missouri Department of Health, Jefferson City, Missouri.
^Rosaria Ciaramitaro, death certificate no. 14556 (1957). Missouri Department of Health, Jefferson City, Missouri
^Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis "Giuseppe and Rosaria Ciaramitaro Burial Records". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^Find A Grave "Baptism and Marriage Record of Fara Sharamitaro". Retrieved January 12, 2019.
^St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Joseph John Vitale Obituary". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^ abMike Palozzolo, death certificate no. 17922 (1934). Missouri Department of Health, Jefferson City, Missouri.
^Auble, John (2002). A History of St. Louis Gangsters. St. Louis, Missouri: The National Criminal Research Society. Pp. 29.
^Auble, John (2002). A History of St. Louis Gangsters. St. Louis, Missouri: The National Criminal Research Society. Pp. 30.
^Auble, John (2002). A History of St. Louis Gangsters. St. Louis, Missouri: The National Criminal Research Society. Pp. 27.
^"Vitale Wants Hearing on Cash Seized by FBI", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 13, 1980, pg. 7A
^Associated Press. "Probers Search for Underworld Ties with Boxers, undated newspaper clipping. FBI file" Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^Picou, Tommy. "The Sonny Liston Story: He Always Had Cop Trouble." Chicago Daily Defender, September 11, 1962, pp. 22
^Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Charles "Sonny" Liston Memorandum, May 1, 1962.". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^Editorial. "Names 4 in Ransom Theft." Chicago Daily Tribune, August 20, 1958, pp. 1; 9.
^Moore, William. "Quiz Juke Box Figure about Mafia Links: Illinois Rackets Boss Invokes 5th." Chicago Daily Tribune, February 12, 1959, pp. A4.
^Stelzer, C.D. (2009). "The Death of Jesse Stoneking" Survive the Jive blog.
^ abMachi, Mario, Allan May, and Charlie Molino. (1999)."St. Louis Family". AmericanMafia.com. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis "John J. Vitale Burial Record". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis "Fara Marie Vitale Burial Record". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
john, vitale, mobster, john, joseph, vitale, 1909, june, 1982, sicilian, american, boss, under, boss, louis, crime, family, during, lifetime, vitale, boss, louis, crime, family, john, joseph, vitaleborn, 1909, 1909st, louis, missouridiedjune, 1982, 1982, aged,. John Joseph Vitale May 17 1909 June 5 1982 was a Sicilian American boss and under boss 1 of the St Louis crime family During his lifetime Vitale was the boss of the St Louis crime family 2 John Joseph VitaleBorn 1909 05 17 May 17 1909St Louis MissouriDiedJune 5 1982 1982 06 05 aged 73 St Louis MissouriResting placeCalvary Cemetery St Louis MissouriNationalityAmericanOccupationOrganized crimeSpouse s Fara Marie Ciaramitaro Mildred Joyce Vitale NEE Allen ChildrenJoseph John VitaleMary Ann VitaleJohn L VitaleRosetta Vitale Michelle Vitale grandchildren Morgan VitaleParent s Joseph Vitale Sr Mary Theresa Bovacanti Contents 1 Early life 2 St Louis crime family 2 1 Sonny Liston affair 2 2 Other activities 3 Final days 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditJohn J Vitale was born in St Louis Missouri in 1909 3 the eldest of eight children of Joseph Vitale Sr and Mary Theresa Bovacanti 4 Both of Vitale s parents were born in Sicily his father in Trapani 4 and his mother in Termini Imerese 5 They immigrated to the United States a few years before John was born 6 During the Great Depression he worked as an usher at the Ambassador Theater where he met movie actress Ginger Rogers the two became lifelong friends 3 On September 8 1929 he married Fara Marie Sharamitaro 7 the daughter of Giuseppe Sharamitaro also spelled Ciaramitaro and Rosaria Bommarito 8 9 10 11 Together they had four children 12 After Fara died in July 1973 John married Mildred Joyce Allen on August 4th 1973 in Las Vegas Nevada They moved back to Saint Louis Missouri to start their family together Including Mary Michelle Vitale who was age 13 at the time Vitale s arrest record began circa 1920 though he was rarely convicted 2 For example in 1934 he was a suspect in the death of Mike Palazzolo 13 According to St Louis investigative reporter John Auble Palazzolo allegedly had an ongoing quarrel with a man named Walter Mushenick In May 1934 Mushenick assaulted Palazzolo s girlfriend Delphine slapping her in the face After Delphine informed Palazzolo of the assault Palazzolo stated that he was going to get even with Mushenick 14 Witnesses stated that when Palazzolo left his parents house to visit a friend Vitale arrived and waited for him to return After returning home Palazzolo left with Vitale in Vitale s car That was the last time Palazzolo was seen alive The coroner determined that Palozzolo was shot twice with a 38 caliber a single shot through the head and neck and another in the chest 13 Though a warrant was issued for his arrest Vitale was exonerated of the murder 15 St Louis crime family EditLittle is known of Vitale s early years in the syndicate as he was known for keeping a low profile His last run in with the law was in 1980 when he was arrested for having US 30 000 in his pocket 16 17 Sonny Liston affair Edit The St Louis crime family held financial interests in the career of Sonny Liston a professional boxer According to both FBI and newspaper reports Vitale in addition to other underworld crime figures reportedly controlled Liston s contract 18 by owning approximately twelve percent of the boxer s contract 19 However when a congressional committee inquired into the matter he refused to answer any questions 20 Other activities Edit Vitale was sent to federal prison once on a narcotics charge during the 1950s 2 In 1958 he was charged with the federal crime of transporting firearms across state lines which he appealed 21 In February 1959 he was called to testify regarding mafia controlled coin machine rackets but invoked the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution against self incrimination 22 In 1977 he was charged with assault and sentenced to the St Louis City workhouse 2 Final days EditTwo sources claim that Vitale later became an FBI informant following the death of boss Anthony Tony G Giordano 23 24 However no evidence has been provided to substantiate this claim Further Vitale remained the boss after Giordano s death dying of natural causes in St Louis as an elderly man He died on June 5 1982 24 and was buried on June 9 1982 in Calvary Cemetery in St Louis 25 He was preceded in death by his wife Fara who was buried on July 20 1973 in Calvary Cemetery 26 Ancestors of John Joseph Vitale16 8 17 4 John Vitale18 9 19 2 Joseph Vitale Sr 20 10 21 5 Theresa Toia22 11 23 1 John Joseph Vitale24 12 Salvatore Bovaconti25 6 Joseph Bovacanti26 13 Maria Masitio27 3 Mary Theresa Bovacanti28 Marco Cianciolo14 Giuseppe Nicolo Cianciolo29 Cosima da Vinci7 Marie Cianciolo30 Lorenzo Palmisano15 Anna Agostina Palmisano31 Mary Ardizzone CaitoReferences Edit Walsh Denny May 29 1970 Investigative Report A Two Faced Crime Fight in St Louis Life Magazine Pp 30 a b c d Associated Press John Vitale Organized Crime Leader in St Louis Dies at 73 Chicago Tribune June 7 1982 pp D13 a b Auble John 2002 A History of St Louis Gangsters St Louis Missouri The National Criminal Research Society Pp 26 a b Randazzo Andy T Joseph Vitale Genealogy Retrieved July 18 2011 Randazzo Andy T Maria Theresa Bovacanti Genealogy Retrieved July 18 2011 John Vitale household 1910 U S Census St Louis City Mo pop sch Ward 4 ED 68 SD 68 sh 6B dw 111 fl 117 NA microfilm T624 roll 813 Randazzo Andy T Fara Marie Sharamitaro Genealogy Retrieved July 18 2011 Giuseppe Ciramitaro death certificate no 24411 1951 Missouri Department of Health Jefferson City Missouri Rosaria Ciaramitaro death certificate no 14556 1957 Missouri Department of Health Jefferson City Missouri Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St Louis Giuseppe and Rosaria Ciaramitaro Burial Records Retrieved July 18 2011 Find A Grave Baptism and Marriage Record of Fara Sharamitaro Retrieved January 12 2019 St Louis Post Dispatch Joseph John Vitale Obituary Retrieved July 18 2011 a b Mike Palozzolo death certificate no 17922 1934 Missouri Department of Health Jefferson City Missouri Auble John 2002 A History of St Louis Gangsters St Louis Missouri The National Criminal Research Society Pp 29 Auble John 2002 A History of St Louis Gangsters St Louis Missouri The National Criminal Research Society Pp 30 Auble John 2002 A History of St Louis Gangsters St Louis Missouri The National Criminal Research Society Pp 27 Vitale Wants Hearing on Cash Seized by FBI St Louis Post Dispatch November 13 1980 pg 7A Associated Press Probers Search for Underworld Ties with Boxers undated newspaper clipping FBI file Retrieved July 18 2011 Picou Tommy The Sonny Liston Story He Always Had Cop Trouble Chicago Daily Defender September 11 1962 pp 22 Federal Bureau of Investigation Charles Sonny Liston Memorandum May 1 1962 Retrieved July 18 2011 Editorial Names 4 in Ransom Theft Chicago Daily Tribune August 20 1958 pp 1 9 Moore William Quiz Juke Box Figure about Mafia Links Illinois Rackets Boss Invokes 5th Chicago Daily Tribune February 12 1959 pp A4 Stelzer C D 2009 The Death of Jesse Stoneking Survive the Jive blog a b Machi Mario Allan May and Charlie Molino 1999 St Louis Family AmericanMafia com Retrieved July 18 2011 Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St Louis John J Vitale Burial Record Retrieved July 18 2011 Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St Louis Fara Marie Vitale Burial Record Retrieved July 18 2011 External links EditSt Louis Family AmericanMafia com Giordano The St Louis Crime Family Crime Library Business positionsPreceded byUnknown St Louis crime familyUnderbossunknown 1980 Succeeded byJoseph CammarataPreceded byAnthony Tony G Giordanoas boss St Louis crime familyActing boss1980 1982 Succeeded byMatthew M Mike Trupiano Jr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Vitale mobster amp oldid 1099772964, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
