April 25, 2005 - Frank "Gumba" Saladino

[cavita]

Twenty years ago today, on April 25, 2005, FBI agents came calling to the Super 8 Motel in Hampshire, Illinois for Frank “Gumba” Saladino with a warrant for his arrest regarding murders he committed for the Chicago Outfit’s 26th Street/Chinatown Crew from years before. When agents entered his room they found Saladino dead from apparent heart issues. Found in the 59-year-old mobster’s hotel room was $25,000 in cash and $70,000 in checks which authorities assumed were part of the collections Saladino made on gambling collections and extortion tied to the Chicago Outfit but Saladino had cut ties with that group long before and these were most likely gambling proceeds on behalf of organized gambling out of Rockford headed by Salvatore Galluzzo.

To understand Frank Saladino, one would have to go back to his youth in south Rockford. Frank was born December 9, 1945 to Giorgio Saladino and Giuseppa Patti. Frank’s father was already a made member of the Rockford LCN by the time Frank was born and indications are that he was a capo responsible for the men under him. Frank’s younger years were unremarkable except that he was very large for his age so that made him a formidable person on the football field for St. Anthony’s School. His first brush with the law came on January 29, 1963 when he was arrested for beating and robbing 48-year-old Louis Mays in an alley behind the St. Mary Society. When this case came to trial, the victim failed to identify Saladino in court, most likely because he was made aware of the stature his father had in the Rockford LCN.

Saladino didn’t wait much longer to get into trouble again when on August 31, 1963 he was in a vehicle with Joseph C. Zito, 23, Dominic Gaziano, 21 and Jerry J. Amore, 20. The four young men were stopped behind another vehicle at a train crossing at Corbin Street and Tay Street in Rockford. Saladino and his companions were impatient with having to wait behind the other vehicle and began honking. Not getting the desired results, the four men got out of their cars and dragged the other two men from their vehicle and began beating them. For this incident, Saladino was only charged with a curfew violation.

More serious charges for Frank came down on July 27, 1964 when he and his friend Joseph W. Saladino encountered 18-year-old Carolyn Blades waiting for a bus at South Church and Montague Streets. The two men offered Blades a ride and she accepted because she knew the two from around the neighborhood. The three then stopped off and bought two quarts of beer and drove west of Rockford where ultimately the two men raped the young woman. For this, both men were sentenced to 3-10 years in the Illinois State Penitentiary.

On March 11, 1968 Frank was released from Pontiac state prison and he was discharged from parole on April 11, 1970. A May 27, 1970 FBI report on Saladino’s brother-in-law Phil Cannella had this to say about Saladino: “CG T-1 advises CANNELLA has a brother-in-law, FRANK SALADINO who is currently residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attending Milwaukee Institute of Technology. SALADINO is running a small cleaning shop on State Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for purpose of supporting himself in this endeavor.”
This venture, though short-lived, was most likely set up through Cannella and the Milwaukee contacts the Rockford family had at the time. It is not known how long Saladino remained in Milwaukee but according to Outfit member-turned-informant Nick Calabrese, Saladino starting lending out money at crap games in Chicago. These crap games were run by Joey “The Clown” Lombardo and reportedly started around 1975.
Due to his immense size at over six feet and three hundred pounds, Frank was a natural at intimidating gambling debtors into paying up and the 26th Street/Chinatown Crew utilized him for this but also for beatings and murder, to which he committed at least four for the them. By 1976 it seems Saladino was hooked up with the 26th Street Crew in Chicago and worked closely with Ronald Jarrett and Angelo LaPietra. Around this time Saladino, along with old pal Joseph W. Saladino and Frank Geraci, all of Rockford, became 50-50 gambling agents with the Chicago crew and usually Nick Calabrese and his brother Frank would meet Joe Saladino and Frank Geraci in the suburbs and they would settle up weekly with their gambling proceeds.

Frank was also used in that crew’s burglary ring as well as an August 20, 1981 arrest showed. Saladino was arrested for being involved in a Chicago burglary ring that moved over $400,000 worth of merchandise along with Ronald Jarrett, Michael Gurgone, Frank Bertucci, Tom Versetto, George Ravnic, Phil Lazzar, Sam Bills and Sam Ciancio, all associates of the Chicago Outfit.
Nick Calabrese reported that sometime in the 1980s the Rockford men broke off from the Chinatown crew, in fear for their lives. Why this was, it was never explained. Nick Calabrese goes on to say that a “sitdown” in Rockford was necessary to try and get the three Rockford men back in with the Chinatown Crew. According to Nick Calabrese the sitdown consisted in part of the three Rockford men and Sam Carlisi, Angelo “The Hook” LaPietra and Jimmy Marcello, all of Chicago and that Carlisi, LaPietra and Marcello drove out to Rockford one night, sometime in 1980 or 1981 later in the year for the sitdown. Calabrese ended by saying that “things didn’t end up going the Chinatown crew’s way and that the Rockford men stayed out in Rockford because that’s where they belonged.” Calabrese stated he found this all out from his brother Frank when questioned by the FBI, Calabrese further explained that as a result of the sitdown the 26th Street Crew lost. He was also asked why Carlisi and Marcello were part of the sitdown and Calabrese said that they “knew the guy from out that way…” When asked to explain further, he stated they knew the counterpart out there. This counterpart was most likely the longtime Rockford LCN boss Joe Zammuto, who had a long history with the Chicago Outfit.
This sitdown most likely occurred in late 1981 as an October 13, 1981 FBI file stated, “[REDACTED] advised Special Agent [REDACTED] as follows: [FRANK SALADINO] has not been seen for several weeks and is reportedly on the run for some reason. A friend of source’s was asked to be on the lookout for [SALADINO] and if seen, to note when and where he was seen and what the plate on his vehicle he was driving. The request was made of the friend by [RONALD JARRETT] known to have connections with Angelo LaPietra.”

By February 27, 1983 Saladino and his old pal Joe Saladino were involved in a car accident on that day. Joe was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest while Frank kept his cool. During this time Frank was becoming more involved with Rockford LCN underboss Frank Buscemi and the Galluzzo brothers- Salvatore and Natale. Frank, in fact, was a passenger in a car that was being driven by Natale Galluzzo on March 6, 1986 when the car veered off the road on the Northwest Tollway and hit a guardrail near Belvidere, Illinois. At this time Frank Buscemi, Salvatore Galluzzo and many others were importing and distributing heroin and cocaine through Sicilian and Canadian sources into the various pizzeria parlors in the Rockford area. Saladino was also noted to have been involved in a business called Worldwide Contracting with Galluzzo and was also allegedly working for Buscemi in his pizza ingredient business called Rondinella, but these “jobs” were most likely to show an income for Saladino.

FBI surveillance photos from April 1989 showed Saladino chauffeuring and accompanying Salvatore Galluzzo around Rockford. Places the FBI tailed the men to were the De Ja Oo Club, Gerry’s Pizza, the Offtrack Betting parlor and many other businesses and pizzerias. The mid-1990s saw Saladino making more and more collections for the Rockford LCN in relation to their “street tax” on illegal gambling games. Frank could also be found slipping into the many strip clubs and picking up the street tax- businesses such as Aldino’s Lounge, The Surf, Ken’s Hideaway and others all paid the street tax due to their VIP sections and “private” lap dances. Frank was also alluded to in FBI files as making collections due to narcotics distribution as well and he was often seen in the company of capo Sebastian “Knobby” Gulotta.

Saladino continued being involved with the Rockford group and their street tax collections as the Family Secrets investigation was heating up. An FBI file from March 18, 2003 found FBI agents speaking to Saladino at the Baymont Suites Hotel in DeKalb, Illinois. In addition to the FBI agents was a Rockford Police Detective and a Chicago Police Detective. Saladino was given an Inventory Notice regarding the interception of wire communications for telephone numbers 815-395-1695, 815-871-0242 and 815-222-2789. Saladino was then “asked about his involvement and/or knowledge of gambling in the Rockford area.” He then “advised that gambling is “nothing” and that he was not involved in any gambling operation.” He stated who his attorney was and ended the interview, to which the agents and detectives left.

Just ten months after Saladino’s death, he was named as an unindicted co-conspirator relating to a gambling operation out of Rockford. On February 1, 2006 federal agents and Rockford area authorities arrested Joe W. Saladino, John “Tiger” Frisella, John “Don Finooch” Salamone, Joe “Pep” Fiorenza, Nick Fiorenza, Rick Fiorenza, Frank Giardono, Nick Provenzano and Charles Purin. All were charged with a bookmaking operation going back to at least the early 1980s. Joe Saladino was already in prison on weapons charges and was given an additional three months plus fines. The other men charged were all given fines and probation and this closed the book on Frank Saladino and his life in Rockford.

[Aunt+Baby]

Awesome write up. The guy was one of the worst eggs, by far. Total animal

I don’t know much about the town of Rockford other than that it’s a dead rust belt wasteland

Was there a Little Italy of some sort there at one point? How did that work?

And we don’t know whether or not Goomba was ever straightened out, correct?

[cavita]

Awesome write up. The guy was one of the worst eggs, by far. Total animal

I don’t know much about the town of Rockford other than that it’s a dead rust belt wasteland

Was there a Little Italy of some sort there at one point? How did that work?

And we don’t know whether or not Goomba was ever straightened out, correct?

Well Rockford isn't a dead rust belt wasteland...it has its share of crime but has many different cultures and a thriving art scene as well as great local restaurants. There was a Little Italy in the southwest part of the city but with expansion of the city many Italians could afford nicer homes and moved out. It really stopped being a Little Italy section in the 1970s.
Gumba was made into the Rockford family though I can't pinpoint exactly when- I'm guessing early to mid 80s. I always remember whenever he walked into one of the social clubs or taverns, people would nod and say, "he's a heavy hitter" which loosely meant he was one of the Rockford guys.

[Aunt+Baby]

Awesome write up. The guy was one of the worst eggs, by far. Total animal

I don’t know much about the town of Rockford other than that it’s a dead rust belt wasteland

Was there a Little Italy of some sort there at one point? How did that work?

And we don’t know whether or not Goomba was ever straightened out, correct?

Well Rockford isn't a dead rust belt wasteland...it has its share of crime but has many different cultures and a thriving art scene as well as great local restaurants. There was a Little Italy in the southwest part of the city but with expansion of the city many Italians could afford nicer homes and moved out. It really stopped being a Little Italy section in the 1970s.
Gumba was made into the Rockford family though I can't pinpoint exactly when- I'm guessing early to mid 80s. I always remember whenever he walked into one of the social clubs or taverns, people would nod and say, "he's a heavy hitter" which loosely meant he was one of the Rockford guys.

Wow. Had no idea. I just assumed that any city in Illinois outside of the obvious was a dead zone. That’s interesting. Is there any evidence of the Little Italy still remaining? Or has it been completely erased?

Also, How tight & organized was that family’s structure? The way people speak about it, one would think that it was just another arm of the Outfit

[NickyEyes1]

There's still a handful of social clubs in Rockford, but no concentrated Italian area anymore

[cavita]

Awesome write up. The guy was one of the worst eggs, by far. Total animal

I don’t know much about the town of Rockford other than that it’s a dead rust belt wasteland

Was there a Little Italy of some sort there at one point? How did that work?

And we don’t know whether or not Goomba was ever straightened out, correct?

Well Rockford isn't a dead rust belt wasteland...it has its share of crime but has many different cultures and a thriving art scene as well as great local restaurants. There was a Little Italy in the southwest part of the city but with expansion of the city many Italians could afford nicer homes and moved out. It really stopped being a Little Italy section in the 1970s.
Gumba was made into the Rockford family though I can't pinpoint exactly when- I'm guessing early to mid 80s. I always remember whenever he walked into one of the social clubs or taverns, people would nod and say, "he's a heavy hitter" which loosely meant he was one of the Rockford guys.

Wow. Had no idea. I just assumed that any city in Illinois outside of the obvious was a dead zone. That’s interesting. Is there any evidence of the Little Italy still remaining? Or has it been completely erased?

Also, How tight & organized was that family’s structure? The way people speak about it, one would think that it was just another arm of the Outfit

Little Italy section in Rockford is gone, just a few older Italians living there whose homes are paid off.
They had a typical structure of boss, underboss, consig, capo and soldiers and many associates and they were very tight. FBI files stated they would like to develop an informant within the family but said they were too close-knit to accomplish that.
I think it was always assumed they were an arm of the Outfit and there was at least one 1990s report that indicated as such but I still feel that was just streamlining by the FBI. I know they partnered with them on many ventures but for me it's still up in the air. 1980s FBI files I have always listed them as a separate entity.

[NorthBuffalo]

I always enjoy the Rockford posts Cavita and the detailed information. Correct me if I'm wrong but Saladino was never married or had kids, correct? That is actually quite rare in both the mob and italian culture in general if true - I believe I read that in the Rockford newspapers upon his death years ago and thought either - he's the real Paulie Walnuts - or he was really committed to his craft...or perhaps we just never knew and he did have a family.

[cavita]

I always enjoy the Rockford posts Cavita and the detailed information. Correct me if I'm wrong but Saladino was never married or had kids, correct? That is actually quite rare in both the mob and italian culture in general if true - I believe I read that in the Rockford newspapers upon his death years ago and thought either - he's the real Paulie Walnuts - or he was really committed to his craft...or perhaps we just never knew and he did have a family.

Saladino never did marry or have kids but was surveilled in the company of different women, however. Interestingly, Rockford consigliere Joe Zito was married but never had kids and it was the same for member Joe Marinelli.
Though Saladino was hardcore LCN, he was very religious. If I recall when agents burst into his hotel room and found him dead he had a mini religious shrine complete with crucifixes on his dresser. Frank was also raised speaking Sicilian and loved it when he could carry a conversation with those who could speak it.

[Patrickgold]

Great post as always Cavita. Me and you have talked in private about Gumbo before and this just adds to more things I didn’t know.

In regards to if there is any remnants of Little Italy still around, the most famous remnant closed down about 10 years and it was a famous restaurant called “Maria’s Cafe”. The building is still up with the signs. Unsure why nobody has bought it or opened a new business in there. Another famous place was Roma Bakery and that closed down 5 years ago or so. The area is now called “Ethnic Village” which I guess is a tribute to the ethnic groups that lived there in the past including Italians. There is an ethnic heritage museum in the neighborhood but I have not been there. The area is heavily Latino now and has a crime issues. Here is a list of remnants of Little Italy that are still there:

St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church - very beautiful church that is still a very Italian church with many people traveling from outside of the city to attend mass on Sundays. They also have an excellent St Joseph’s table every year.

Zammuto’s Granita - not owned by the Zammutos anymore but still have the same recipe. Always go there when I’m in town but only open during summer. For those that don’t know, granita is Italian ice.

Benny’s Dariette - been open for years and also serves excellent granita. Is open year round.

St Ambrosia Social Club - big social club that a lot of the mob guys were members. They throw big events throughout the year.

Bove's Auto Repair - been open for years there and is owned by the Bove family.

[cavita]

Great post as always Cavita. Me and you have talked in private about Gumbo before and this just adds to more things I didn’t know.

In regards to if there is any remnants of Little Italy still around, the most famous remnant closed down about 10 years and it was a famous restaurant called “Maria’s Cafe”. The building is still up with the signs. Unsure why nobody has bought it or opened a new business in there. Another famous place was Roma Bakery and that closed down 5 years ago or so. The area is now called “Ethnic Village” which I guess is a tribute to the ethnic groups that lived there in the past including Italians. There is an ethnic heritage museum in the neighborhood but I have not been there. The area is heavily Latino now and has a crime issues. Here is a list of remnants of Little Italy that are still there:

St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church - very beautiful church that is still a very Italian church with many people traveling from outside of the city to attend mass on Sundays. They also have an excellent St Joseph’s table every year.

Zammuto’s Granita - not owned by the Zammutos anymore but still have the same recipe. Always go there when I’m in town but only open during summer. For those that don’t know, granita is Italian ice.

Benny’s Dariette - been open for years and also serves excellent granita. Is open year round.

St Ambrosia Social Club - big social club that a lot of the mob guys were members. They throw big events throughout the year.

Bove's Auto Repair - been open for years there and is owned by the Bove family.

Yes, Maria's Cafe was a staple in the community and it was just one of those classic old style Italian eateries where you always saw someone you knew. Funny story, one night maybe 25 years ago or so I was in town and walked in near closing and stopped in the kitchen area and some of the Rockford guys were in the back pouring money out of paper grocery bags on the big table back there- gambling money that was being counted.

Roma Bakery was always a good stop in the morning and interestingly enough it was originally owned by the family of Rockford LCN member Joe Marinelli.

Agreed, St. Anthony Church is a beautiful centerpiece in that part of town and many Italians to this day still go to church there and come from all across the area to get married there and the St. Joseph's Table there is second to none.

Zammuto's Granita- I haven't been there since Joe "Slippy" Zammuto sold it and I prefer Benny's Dariette granita when I'm in town.

St. Ambrogio Social Club has been there since 1918 and still attracts many for their fish fry, bocce and other events and many of the connected guys would hang out there.

Bove's Auto Repair- been there many, many years and it used to be DeCarlo's Garage which during Prohibition Chris DeCarlo would outfit the local syndicate's cars with secret compartments to hide their booze for transportation.

[Patrickgold]

Great post as always Cavita. Me and you have talked in private about Gumbo before and this just adds to more things I didn’t know.

In regards to if there is any remnants of Little Italy still around, the most famous remnant closed down about 10 years and it was a famous restaurant called “Maria’s Cafe”. The building is still up with the signs. Unsure why nobody has bought it or opened a new business in there. Another famous place was Roma Bakery and that closed down 5 years ago or so. The area is now called “Ethnic Village” which I guess is a tribute to the ethnic groups that lived there in the past including Italians. There is an ethnic heritage museum in the neighborhood but I have not been there. The area is heavily Latino now and has a crime issues. Here is a list of remnants of Little Italy that are still there:

St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church - very beautiful church that is still a very Italian church with many people traveling from outside of the city to attend mass on Sundays. They also have an excellent St Joseph’s table every year.

Zammuto’s Granita - not owned by the Zammutos anymore but still have the same recipe. Always go there when I’m in town but only open during summer. For those that don’t know, granita is Italian ice.

Benny’s Dariette - been open for years and also serves excellent granita. Is open year round.

St Ambrosia Social Club - big social club that a lot of the mob guys were members. They throw big events throughout the year.

Bove's Auto Repair - been open for years there and is owned by the Bove family.

Yes, Maria's Cafe was a staple in the community and it was just one of those classic old style Italian eateries where you always saw someone you knew. Funny story, one night maybe 25 years ago or so I was in town and walked in near closing and stopped in the kitchen area and some of the Rockford guys were in the back pouring money out of paper grocery bags on the big table back there- gambling money that was being counted.

Roma Bakery was always a good stop in the morning and interestingly enough it was originally owned by the family of Rockford LCN member Joe Marinelli.

Agreed, St. Anthony Church is a beautiful centerpiece in that part of town and many Italians to this day still go to church there and come from all across the area to get married there and the St. Joseph's Table there is second to none.

Zammuto's Granita- I haven't been there since Joe "Slippy" Zammuto sold it and I prefer Benny's Dariette granita when I'm in town.

St. Ambrogio Social Club has been there since 1918 and still attracts many for their fish fry, bocce and other events and many of the connected guys would hang out there.

Bove's Auto Repair- been there many, many years and it used to be DeCarlo's Garage which during Prohibition Chris DeCarlo would outfit the local syndicate's cars with secret compartments to hide their booze for transportation.

Thanks for the additional input Cavita. Any other businesses you can think of that are still Italian owned?

Also, Frank Saladino got involved with Chinatown through Ronnie Jarrett who he met in Pontiac prison. That’s what I heard. There was also rumors going around that Gumba died from poisoning but I’m sure the autopsy would have found that out if they did one.

[PolackTony]

Another excellent post. The anecdote about Saladino having been found with a religious shrine in his room is one of those little things that adds a dimension of life to a guy who most of us mainly know from coverage of Family Secrets. The fact that Saladino spoke Sicilian -- unsurprising given that he was a Rockford guy -- is also something that one can imagine was another layer of confidence/trust between him and the LaPietra crew, as the majority of those guys were either Sicilian or half-Sicilian.

---------------------------

Also, Frank Saladino got involved with Chinatown through Ronnie Jarrett who he met in Pontiac prison. That’s what I heard.

Correct -- this was what Nicky Calabrese said in his testimony about the matter.

[cavita]

Great post as always Cavita. Me and you have talked in private about Gumbo before and this just adds to more things I didn’t know.

In regards to if there is any remnants of Little Italy still around, the most famous remnant closed down about 10 years and it was a famous restaurant called “Maria’s Cafe”. The building is still up with the signs. Unsure why nobody has bought it or opened a new business in there. Another famous place was Roma Bakery and that closed down 5 years ago or so. The area is now called “Ethnic Village” which I guess is a tribute to the ethnic groups that lived there in the past including Italians. There is an ethnic heritage museum in the neighborhood but I have not been there. The area is heavily Latino now and has a crime issues. Here is a list of remnants of Little Italy that are still there:

St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church - very beautiful church that is still a very Italian church with many people traveling from outside of the city to attend mass on Sundays. They also have an excellent St Joseph’s table every year.

Zammuto’s Granita - not owned by the Zammutos anymore but still have the same recipe. Always go there when I’m in town but only open during summer. For those that don’t know, granita is Italian ice.

Benny’s Dariette - been open for years and also serves excellent granita. Is open year round.

St Ambrosia Social Club - big social club that a lot of the mob guys were members. They throw big events throughout the year.

Bove's Auto Repair - been open for years there and is owned by the Bove family.

Yes, Maria's Cafe was a staple in the community and it was just one of those classic old style Italian eateries where you always saw someone you knew. Funny story, one night maybe 25 years ago or so I was in town and walked in near closing and stopped in the kitchen area and some of the Rockford guys were in the back pouring money out of paper grocery bags on the big table back there- gambling money that was being counted.

Roma Bakery was always a good stop in the morning and interestingly enough it was originally owned by the family of Rockford LCN member Joe Marinelli.

Agreed, St. Anthony Church is a beautiful centerpiece in that part of town and many Italians to this day still go to church there and come from all across the area to get married there and the St. Joseph's Table there is second to none.

Zammuto's Granita- I haven't been there since Joe "Slippy" Zammuto sold it and I prefer Benny's Dariette granita when I'm in town.

St. Ambrogio Social Club has been there since 1918 and still attracts many for their fish fry, bocce and other events and many of the connected guys would hang out there.

Bove's Auto Repair- been there many, many years and it used to be DeCarlo's Garage which during Prohibition Chris DeCarlo would outfit the local syndicate's cars with secret compartments to hide their booze for transportation.

Thanks for the additional input Cavita. Any other businesses you can think of that are still Italian owned?

Also, Frank Saladino got involved with Chinatown through Ronnie Jarrett who he met in Pontiac prison. That’s what I heard. There was also rumors going around that Gumba died from poisoning but I’m sure the autopsy would have found that out if they did one.

He definitely didn't die from poisoning...I can't remember the technical term for the heart issue he died from per the Kane County Coroner but I have it somewhere. Frank mostly wore black shirts and pants though sometimes he was surveilled wearing gray pants and black shirts and he liked his gold rings, especially pinky rings. There's a hilarious article I have where it described that Frank frequently ordered from a pizzeria near the hotel he died in. The workers actually told him he looked like a hitman and joked around calling him "Frankie The Hammer" and Frank would laugh at that. After he died and they were interviewed, they expressed shock that they were really talking to a hit man.

[Patrickgold]

Great post as always Cavita. Me and you have talked in private about Gumbo before and this just adds to more things I didn’t know.

In regards to if there is any remnants of Little Italy still around, the most famous remnant closed down about 10 years and it was a famous restaurant called “Maria’s Cafe”. The building is still up with the signs. Unsure why nobody has bought it or opened a new business in there. Another famous place was Roma Bakery and that closed down 5 years ago or so. The area is now called “Ethnic Village” which I guess is a tribute to the ethnic groups that lived there in the past including Italians. There is an ethnic heritage museum in the neighborhood but I have not been there. The area is heavily Latino now and has a crime issues. Here is a list of remnants of Little Italy that are still there:

St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church - very beautiful church that is still a very Italian church with many people traveling from outside of the city to attend mass on Sundays. They also have an excellent St Joseph’s table every year.

Zammuto’s Granita - not owned by the Zammutos anymore but still have the same recipe. Always go there when I’m in town but only open during summer. For those that don’t know, granita is Italian ice.

Benny’s Dariette - been open for years and also serves excellent granita. Is open year round.

St Ambrosia Social Club - big social club that a lot of the mob guys were members. They throw big events throughout the year.

Bove's Auto Repair - been open for years there and is owned by the Bove family.

Yes, Maria's Cafe was a staple in the community and it was just one of those classic old style Italian eateries where you always saw someone you knew. Funny story, one night maybe 25 years ago or so I was in town and walked in near closing and stopped in the kitchen area and some of the Rockford guys were in the back pouring money out of paper grocery bags on the big table back there- gambling money that was being counted.

Roma Bakery was always a good stop in the morning and interestingly enough it was originally owned by the family of Rockford LCN member Joe Marinelli.

Agreed, St. Anthony Church is a beautiful centerpiece in that part of town and many Italians to this day still go to church there and come from all across the area to get married there and the St. Joseph's Table there is second to none.

Zammuto's Granita- I haven't been there since Joe "Slippy" Zammuto sold it and I prefer Benny's Dariette granita when I'm in town.

St. Ambrogio Social Club has been there since 1918 and still attracts many for their fish fry, bocce and other events and many of the connected guys would hang out there.

Bove's Auto Repair- been there many, many years and it used to be DeCarlo's Garage which during Prohibition Chris DeCarlo would outfit the local syndicate's cars with secret compartments to hide their booze for transportation.

Thanks for the additional input Cavita. Any other businesses you can think of that are still Italian owned?

Also, Frank Saladino got involved with Chinatown through Ronnie Jarrett who he met in Pontiac prison. That’s what I heard. There was also rumors going around that Gumba died from poisoning but I’m sure the autopsy would have found that out if they did one.

He definitely didn't die from poisoning...I can't remember the technical term for the heart issue he died from per the Kane County Coroner but I have it somewhere. Frank mostly wore black shirts and pants though sometimes he was surveilled wearing gray pants and black shirts and he liked his gold rings, especially pinky rings. There's a hilarious article I have where it described that Frank frequently ordered from a pizzeria near the hotel he died in. The workers actually told him he looked like a hitman and joked around calling him "Frankie The Hammer" and Frank would laugh at that. After he died and they were interviewed, they expressed shock that they were really talking to a hit man.

Are there any pictures of Frank in his later years?

[Ivan]

Well Rockford isn't a dead rust belt wasteland...

People say that about Cleveland too and it annoys the hell out of me.

Deindustrialization sucks, sure, but there's so much more to the place than that.