John Vitale (mobster)
John Joseph Vitale was a Sicilian-American boss and underboss of the St. Louis crime family. During his lifetime, Vitale was the boss of the St. Louis crime family.
Early life
John J. Vitale was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1909. Both of Vitale's parents were born in Sicily; his father in Trapani and his mother in Termini Imerese. They immigrated to the United States a few years before John was born. 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.On September 8, 1929, he married Fara Marie Sharamitaro. Together, they had four children.
After Fara died in July 1973 John married Mildred Joyce Allen on August 4, 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, though he was rarely convicted. For example, in 1934, he was a suspect in the death of Mike Palazzolo. 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..." 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. Though a warrant was issued for his arrest, Vitale was exonerated of the murder.