Consumed

By Joseph Pontillo

This book is about love, deep love, adoration, arrogance, self-righteousness, and overpowering and consuming hatred and revenge, which is and becomes over-the-top, uncontrollable hatred that lingers for decades. There is a fine line between love and hate. Anyone who has ever been in any kind of relationship in life can attest to that.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524653620

Joseph Pontillo

The author was born December 22, 1955 in Booklyn, New York, and lived there until 1979. He went to John Jay College of Criminal Justice for two years. He married in 1980 to Diane Mary Messina from Rosedale, New York. They have three children—Joseph, Stephanie, and Samantha. He owned and ran a bakery supply company for twenty-seven years. He always dabbled in comedy and enjoys all sports competition. He is active in church and taught catechism and the head usher at the 8 a.m. mass. He is currently living in Valley Stream, New York, for thirty years. He’s still working for another bakery supply company (intercounty for ten years). He loves to work with others and helps out in his daughter’s coffee house. He runs the open-mic nights twice a month and helps with whatever is needed. He has a website with top open-mic night performers in an effort to get them gigs in clubs, bars, and restaurants. All proceeds go to the performers. He is an avid sports fan of the Mets, Jets, Rangers, and Knicks. Early on, he was always interested in his family history. As a child, his mother told him this incredible story, which he is sharing with you. Most of it is totally true—nonfiction. However, there are parts that are fiction or at least the characters are ficticious. It took him five years to complete this book. He works full time, so he only wrote when he had spare time, which wasn’t much.

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© 2016 Joseph Pontillo. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse    12/09/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5363-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5364-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5362-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016920621

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Table of Contents

PART ONE:  THE SHIP/CHICAGO

Chapter 1.  1920

Chapter 2.  Chicago

Chapter 3.  The Fights

Chapter 4.  The Courtship Begins

Chapter 5.  The Investigation

Chapter 6.  Planning The Future (A Glimpse Of What’s To Come)

Chapter 7.  The Wedding

Chapter 8.  The Honeymoon

Chapter 9.  Back To Reality

Chapter 10.  Facing The Facts

Chapter 11.  The Family Grows

Chapter 12.  The Tide Was Changing…

Chapter 13.  The Will Of God

Chapter 14.  Fighting Back

Chapter 15.  Forgiveness

Chapter 16.  Reaching A Fever-Pitch

Chapter 17.  Turn The Page

Chapter 18.  Her Decision Was Made

Chapter 19.  Remorse

Chapter 20.  What’s Next?

Chapter 21.  The Funeral

Chapter 22.  Let The War Begin

Chapter 23.  Adjustments Have To Be Made

Chapter 24.  The Proposition

Chapter 25.  The Plan

Chapter 26.  The Ambush

Chapter 27.  The Fallout Of The Ambush

Chapter 28.  What Next?

Chapter 29.  Losing It All Monetarily And Spiritually

Chapter 30.  Magdalena’s Issues

Chapter 31.  Magalena: Confused But Determined

Chapter 32.  The Trial Begins

Chapter 33.  Revenge/Indestructible

Chapter 34.  John’s Change

Chapter 35.  The Second Trial Approaches

Chapter 36.  Back To Court

Chapter 37.  The Verdict

PART TWO:  NEW YORK

Chapter 1.  New York

Chapter 2.  The First Day At Work

Chapter 3.  The Children In New York

Chapter 4.  Rosalia (The Worst Is Yet To Come)

Chapter 5.  Meanwhile In Chicago

Chapter 6.  The Bungalow

Chapter 7.  Frankie Hot (Who Does He Think He Is?)

Chapter 8.  Another Trip To Chicago

Chapter 9.  Fast Forward

Chapter 10.  Dating The Man

Chapter 11.  Back To Reality

Chapter 12.  Discussion In The Maria Home About Franks Family

Chapter 13.  Rosalia And Frank Are Engaged

Chapter 14.  It Has To Get Worse Before It Gets Better

Chapter 15.  A Break In The Action

Chapter 16.  The Move

Chapter 17.  Some Things Never Changed

Chapter 18.  Franks Findings

Chapter 19.  June 4th, 1961

Acknowledgement

Thanks to so many people for helping me and encouraging me to write this book.

First and most of all, I want to thank God-who gave me the strength and where with all to complete my dream of writing this story about my mother and her mother and my grandfather.

I would also like to thank my wife, Diane, who put up with me on vacation trips…writing and writing and writing. Also at home isolating myself listening to classical music and writing on weekends all the time. She is the most understanding loving wife I could ever ask for. And although she does not agree with me all the time, she will always support me in my many endeavors in life - thank you!

Then I would like to thank my children Joseph, Stephanie, and Samantha for encouraging me to follow my dream and never giving up…thank you!

I want to thank Arturo Cotreras for designing an amazing cover with my idea he made it a great cover…something I could never do.

He is a very talented guy - thank you!

I would like to thank Sal and Ellen Valente for always listening to me babble on during dinners about the next chapter as I was writing the book - thank you!

I would like to thank Brendar Kerr for spending countless Saturdays and Sundays helping me grammatically and phonetically write the book. You put up with my craziness many a day - thank you!

Also Claire Kennedy, a college student that also helped me write a few chapters. Thank you!

I want to thank all of the employees and our owner at Intercounty Bakers..For listening to me constantly talking about the book and for all of the paper I used..Lol - thank you!

In closing I want to thank all my friends and family and customers for putting up with me as I have always been so excited about the book over these last five years since I began writing. I would drone on about it to whomever would listen! Thank you!

Finally I want to thank everyone who let me use their names in the book alive and deceased …thank you!

I could not have completed this journey without any of you no matter how miniscule a part you played in the completion of this novel – thank you!

Thanks again ..And I love you all very much!

-Joe Pontillo

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother and my grandmother.

To my mother for telling me the story about the mother she never even got a chance to meet. She told the tragic story about her mother’s life, and how her life resembled her life in so many ways, for telling me and teaching me about wisdom and life.

She taught me about hatred and revenge and how it can destroy you.

She explained to me how a person can destroy another person verbally and or physically. She tried to instill wisdom in me so that I would be able to have compassion and love in my life going forward dealing with a wife and children and all who I would be in contact with in my life.

These virtues she never had the opportunity to learn from her mother because of her untimely passing when my mother wasn’t even 1 year old.

She told me that she went through many hardships in her life. Many trials and tribulations as her mother did in her short life. However, she also had faith and put everything in the hands of God!

My mom will never get to see or read this book, however I know she is smiling down on me knowing that her mother’s story was finally told along with some of her own.

This is also dedicated to all people who go through terrible tragedies and situations which get out of control. This book hopefully teaches us to let cooler heads prevail and not let our minds get totally consumed in the destruction of another. I hope you enjoy the story as it is as I believe it to be a story that had to be told!

-Joseph Pontillo

Prologue

Giusseppe Baio sat on a bench in his vineyard. His grandchildren gathered around him, laughing and cheering as he dispensed tales filled with inspiration and wisdom culled from his many years on earth.

When their grandfather finally appeared tired after a long afternoon of storytelling, the children dispersed, leaving behind only one sullen little girl. Grandfather Baio summoned her to approach.

Magdalena, he said her name. What is wrong?

At first, she did not want to speak at all, but after some prying from her grandfather, she finally began to tell him about a mean boy at her school who grabbed her by the pigtails and stuck them in an inkwell.

I want to get back at him, she said, but he’s bigger and stronger than me.

Listen to me and listen to me carefully, he whispered sternly. Never get revenge on your enemy right away or when he expects it. Always wait for when he least expects it.

He took a sip of wine and looked distantly into the vineyard. After spending some time lost in his thoughts, he began to cut into an apple with a small pocket knife.

You wait days, weeks, maybe even months or years later, he continued. Then you repay them for all the mean and bad things that you want revenge for this will give you the best satisfaction. They will never know if it was you who did this to them and will always wonder and think twice before hurting you again".

Magdalena watched intensely as her grandfather cut through the apple. He sliced through it evenly, impaled each section with his knife, and then distributed them one by one to a few children frolicking nearby.

This is a lesson you should never forget. Life will throw some fierce enemies in your direction.

Foreword For Consumato La’familia (Consumed Family)

This book is about love, deep love adoration, arrogance, self righteousness, and over powering consumed hatred and revenge which is and becomes over the top uncontrollable hatred that lingers for decades…

There is a fine line between love and hate…Anyone who has ever been in any kind of a relationship in life can attest to that.

Love can be all consuming a person can be put on a pedestal at one point in a relationship and then can never attain that stature again in the eyes of the beholder. The bar can be set so high the person can never reach those heights again as far as all are concerned.

In other cases a person isn’t the person we thought they were.

When they are put in tense stressful situations, we realize that these people we idolized are not able to handle the situation as we thought they would.

Love and hate can burn eternal in a person for as long as they live on this earth.

This story tells of one such man who quickly gained the love and adoration of a family and a neighborhood. He had a lot going for him until life threw some trials and tribulations at him.

These things he could not handle so he turned to alcohol and other vices.

As a result, he hurt and crushed the people who loved him, most especially his loving wife.

He hurt her so bad it destroyed her and their families… A person can destroy another person as evidenced by this story.

On the other end of the spectrum, hate can be equally overwhelming a person or people can hate so much… They become consumed with hatred and revenge.

Which also becomes a reality in this story and grows and grows and is uncontrollable and manifest it’s self for decades.

Revenge can be sweet but can also destroy lives along the way, lives that weren’t supposed to be destroyed.

PART ONE

THE SHIP/CHICAGO

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Chapter One

1920

On October 14th, 1920, a ship filled with immigrants departed from the Sicilian city of Aragona, due to arrive upon the shores of America sometime in late November. There were many hardships when traveling by sea, such as chickenpox, measles, mumps, typhoid, dissenter as well as simple viruses and the common cold. Any one of those could kill at that time, as vaccines hadn’t been invented yet. There was also the rough seas, the bad weather, the ocean storms, and of course, the crazy people trying to take advantage of others— especially the young and innocent, as they were easy prey. Two such innocents were Rosalia Baio, a poor fisherman’s daughter, and her older sister, Magdalena

Rosalia had three sisters and a brother named Joe— or Giuseppe as he was known in Sicily, the same name as his father. Some of the family was sent in advance because the prevailing thought was that if the ship sank or people got sick and died they would still maintain part of the family Her mother was called Catherine. Her sisters were Magdalena, Asunta, and Janetta. Rosalia was the baby.

The rest of the family was already in Chicago establishing residency and working menial jobs. The last two to come to America were Rosalia and, Magdalena. Their brother Joe was on the first trip because in Italian heritage as he was the only boy and, of course, the family name must go on.

Just as Magdalena and Rosalia boarded the ship, they were approached by two men who appeared dirty and disheveled although they were dressed in expensive clothes. Both women never had much interaction with men besides their father and brother, yet somehow they could tell something was amiss.

When you get to America, do you want to be a movie star? one of them remarked.

You both have beautiful, long black hair, the other hissed through a smirk

The girls kept on walking towards their cabin. The men followed closely. As they opened the cabin door, the men attempted to force their way into the cabin entry.

Hey, my friend here is a Hollywood director, one of the men echoed as Magdalena sealed the door on them.

Go away, she said, we have no interest. Please leave us alone.

Later that night, as the girls slept in their small, dungeon-like cabin, there was knock on the door. Magdalena thought she was dreaming at first. Then there was a louder knock, followed by a third that seemed intended to menace.

Who’s there? she cried,

No one answered. Panic set in over the two girls. Young Rosalia began to tremble with fright,

Shhhhh Magadelena whispered. She tried to comfort her younger sister. Don’t worry; I will take care of you. I won’t let anything happen.

A few minutes passed. Ladies, ladies! a voice at the door beckoned. Don’t be afraid! We are going to make you stars!

There was a moment of silence, followed by a loud crash as the two men broke through the flimsy wooden door. The girls screamed, but the men grabbed them quickly and covered their mouths. Within moments, the sisters found themselves being molested by the men in ways their young minds could never have conceived.

One of the men ripped Rosalia’s top off. She allowed her eyes to roll back into her head, trying to leave the awful place she found herself. Suddenly, she felt the weight of the man pulled off her. She looked to her sister and witnessed the other assailant being drawn back into the darkness by a mysterious force. She heard the click of a pistol, and noticed a shadowy figure standing over the two shocked men.

If I ever see you near these two girls again, the man said in a low voice, I’ll kill you both where you stand.

The two men ran from the room, fearing for their lives. At that moment, the two women realized that the passion and toughness that the man speaking exuded scared them as much as it had scared their attackers. They could see that this man was not the type to fear anyone or anything.

For the next few weeks until they reached America, the sisters became smitten with the man. They learned his name was Gerlando John Maria. They would see him every day. John was equally attentive to both of women though they were not sure which one he liked more. He told them of his many business conquests in Sicily and the fortune his father, his brother, and he had made there, and how he would conquer America the same way. He exuded confidence.He was a contractor by trade, but dabbled in everything. He told them his parents were already in Chicago, and how happy he would be to finally arrive there.

The last day of the trip, as they were leaving the ship, the two men he had fended off were watching him from afar. Always lurking, remembering the fear John had instilled in them. Rosalia and Magdalena said goodbye and thanked him for all his help for what he had done with the two men. John then asked if he could call on each them when they were settled in America-separately, of course he did not ask the question until each was alone with him.

John asked to see me again, they both said at the same time as they exited the ship. They looked at each other quite cross for a moment.

But they didn’t get angry at each other, or jealous, because they both cared for each other quite deeply and had a strong sense of family. They did not know much about men, however, nor that each one certainly had a dark side.

When the girls were met by their family at the dock, the outpouring of love and joy was amazing. The girls told the story of the voyage and how John Maria had saved their lives.

Let’s go back and get those bums! their father and brother cried.

They’re long gone, said Magdalena.

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Chapter Two

CHICAGO

Chicago’s industrial revolution was at its finest. New businesses were popping up all over, and naturally crime followed closely. In some cases, it was like the old west. Shootings were commonplace, and every family owned pistols and were not afraid to use them. Although some businesses attempted to remain legitimate these were the beginnings of the Al Capone era; another Italian immigrant who wanted to be the boss of Chicago. Industry was rapidly overriding humanity. The horse and buggy were being replaced by the Model-T, and of course, evil was always lurking. This is a time when a dollar and dream could pay big dividends— if not for now, then in the future.

And John Maria was no exception. He was an entrepreneur for sure. Rolling over his money from Sicily he was able to start a few businesses very easily. He started a construction company, and he was very shrewd in his bidding to get jobs. There was much to build in Chicago. It was a growing city.

Also, John, his brother and his father were Shylocks. They lent money to people with large interest to be paid back and sometimes had to use strong-arm tactics to get it. People like the Maria’s were in every neighborhood and they always made a lot of money. If you didn’t pay the money back, there would be consequences. When you did pay back your money, the interest was called The Vig— before you touched The Principal. Sometimes you’d be paying off the same money ten times over. John Maria was very smart with his money. He knew how to maximize his profits— legitimately or otherwise.

He showed his mean streak when a man borrowed $250—which would be about $4000 today. After a lot of prodding, he still refused to pay, so John waited for him to come home, approached the man at his door, and asked him for his money. The man refused and spat at him.

A fight ensued. It was very bloody they were wrestling on the floor when the man pulled out a knife, John bit off his pinkie finger during the fight. After the altercation, John became greatly feared because of his fierce fighting using any and all means to get what he wanted.

He also began to drink a lot at that point, because he was always in fear for his life. He knew that others wanted what he had. When he drank wine he felt uninhibited and stronger. The wine made him feel unafraid, fearless.

Now John and his family’s reputation and legacy grew on the Southside of Chicago, and he was getting stronger and gaining allies. He became known as a great salesman, businessman, and tough guy who got what he wanted when he wanted. In those days of Chicago, there were true gangsters and the lower ones— John was a step below the real gangsters. He never took the next step because the gangsters would not have it. The gangsters had more firepower and greater numbers; they were just stronger. They had to co-exist in order to survive.

A few of the local gangsters held a meeting with John, his brother Joe, and their father one afternoon at a restaurant. Of course, everyone spoke Sicilian. It was a nervous time for the three men. They may not have been allowed to leave the restaurant, and their status in the neighborhood was in question. After what seemed like hours, they reached a solution the wind-up was that they could co-exist in the neighborhood, but would have to pay protection money to more powerful mobsters.

After the meeting, John his brother and father walked down the block together with a sense of accomplishment— as well as a sense of relief. It could have gone either way, but they had reached a compromise and would continue to be allowed to do business in the neighborhood.

You have a real mean look in your eyes, Joe said to John. You put the fear of God on the faces of those men even though you were scared to death.

The people of the neighborhood feared and respected John and his family more each day. They were getting all the building contracts and jobs because of their reputation. They were employing a lot of pisanos, with whom they became legendary and beloved.

Joe went into the fruit and vegetable business. He started a distribution business with 2 horses and wagons throughout the Chicago area.He hoped down the road he could go on his own totally without John. Their father, Papa Joe, went the retail route and owned a liquor store and a grocery store.

Since John had control over many buildings, as well as contracting, he had an influence in all the various family businesses. He for sure was the dominant figure in the family and was very controlling.

One day, Joe Baio, who was the youngest member of the Baio family, went out looking for a job. He saw a warehouse shack on a sand lot that said Maria’s. He didn’t know that it was the same John—or Gerlando Maria who had saved his sisters on the ship from Sicily, and John had never met him. By this time, Gerlando was known as John Maria, feared and beloved by many.

Joe Baio needed money to help his sisters and parents. Even though he was young, he felt compelled to work and make a name for himself in Chicago he felt he had a lot to offer if he got a chance to prove himself.

Who do I ask about getting a job here? Joe Baio asked.

What do you do? said a burly laborer.

I’m a bricklayer,’ he replied, a painter, a porter, whatever you need me to do."

He was sent to John Maria’s office which was small shack in a sand yard John ran his business out of there.

I’m here about a job, he said to John Maria.

Have a seat, young man, John said.

"I’m young, I’m strong,’ Joe Baio began to stammer because he was so nervous. John was a very intimidating man to look at. He had a full mane of dark hair, and his eyes were set back in his head a bit like a dark tunnel that seemed to pierce right through people. For a short, 5’6 man, he was broad shouldered and quite tough looking. Joe Baio was shaking in his presence, smoking a cigarette and stuttering nervously.

John asked young Joe Baio, What can you do for me?

Anything, sir Joe Baio responded, I’m willing to do anything you ask me to do. I will work long hours for a fair wage.

My dad is not well, Joe Baio continued, And I have four sisters. I am the only man of five children.

Ok, ok, John stopped him. I respect you already.

After this short conversation, Joe Baio got the job as a laborer— doing anything and everything, just as he had suggested. He excelled at every task he was asked to do.

John instantly developed a soft-spot in his heart for the young man, especially since he had the same name as his father and brother.

John and Joe Baio became fast friends. Everything John did going forward, Joe Baio was with him— good, bad, hard, or easy. They did everything together— from pricing out a job to collecting money around Chicago’s Southside. John was always there for Joe Baio, and Joe Baio was always there for John. They had an almost brotherly love.

Joe would go home every night and tell his family about the great job and the great man he worked for John. One night, his sisters were in the room while he was telling a story.

John Maria? Rosalia blurted out! Is that who you talking about? Joe said yes why? Immediately the sisters began to chatter about the night on the ship from Sicily when they had been assailed by strangers and John had swooped in to save the day.

We already know of John Maria’s greatness! cried Magdalena.

I’d like to invite John Maria for dinner one night this week, Joe Baio said to his parents. I’m making a lot of money thanks to Mr. Maria, and I’d like to pay for everything.

Joe Baio felt having money made him independent but he always wanted to do what ever he could for his family. Thanks to his affiliation with John Maria he now had money.

Dinner was set for Sunday afternoon, the biggest family day of the week in those days. It was a typical Italian dinner: too much food. All day the sisters and the mother prepared antipasta, gravy (meats included), pork, brociale, and of