John Joseph Vitale (May 17, 1909 – June 5, 1982) was a Sicilian-American boss and under-boss 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, the eldest of eight children of Joseph Vitale, Sr. and Mary Theresa Bovacanti. 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, the daughter of Giuseppe Sharamitaro (also spelled Ciaramitaro) and Rosaria Bommarito. Together, they had four children. 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. 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. 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. Sonny Liston affair The St. Louis crime family held financial interests in the career of Sonny Liston, a