John J. Vitale was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1909,[REF] the eldest of eight children of Joseph Vitale, Sr. and Mary Theresa Bovacanti [REF].
Around 1929, he married Fara Marie Sharamitaro,[REF] probably the daughter of Giuseppe Sharamitaro (also spelled Ciaramitaro) and Rosaria Bommarito [REF].