In the Godfather Garden: The Long Life and Times of Richie "the Boot" Boiardo

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Mugshot of John “Big Pussy” Russo, arrested for the murder of Joseph Rosso, 1929. (From the Collections of Newark Public Library) The Boot incarcerated on a concealed-weapons conviction after the attempt on his life. He is at Crosswicks penal farm, where he allegedly threw wine and rum parties with other inmates, 1931–1932. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) The Boot at Crosswicks penal farm, winter of 1931– 1932. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) The Boot toasts Joe DiMaggio at the Vittorio Castle, June 29, 1939. Seated at the table left to right: unknown, DiMaggio, the Boot, Peanuts Ceres; standing left to right: Jerry Spatola, Tony Boy. (From the Collections of Newark Public Library) The Boot and friend Luigi on a boat trip, circa 1936. (Courtesy Roger Hanos) The Boot marries off his fourth child, Rose, September 29, 1943. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Tony Boy on the town with his friends, at the Chanticleer, Millburn, 1943. Left to right: Mr. and Mrs. Agoglia; Tony Boy and girlfriend Helen; Rose and Turk Hanos. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Big shots at the Vittorio Castle for the wedding reception of Roger’s parents, Rose and Arger “Turk” Hanos, September 29, 1943. At the front table, clockwise: Joe “Doc” Stacher (back of head only); Mr. and Mrs. Sam Katz; Jerry Catena and Kay, his wife; Mary and Longy Zwillman; Carmine Battaglia, a capo and associate of Catena’s; Joe Stassi, aka Joe Rogers, who claimed the Boot, Longy, and DeCarlo planned and executed the hit on Dutch Schultz at the Chop House in Newark. The Boot stands with the bride at the far back of the room on the right next to a potted plant; Tony Boy stands in uniform on the left near the doorway. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Richie the Boot, circa 1944. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Tony Boy in uniform with his proud papa, the Boot, at the Vittorio Castle, circa 1944. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) The Boot rides Chief, his prize stallion, on the farm, circa 1948. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) The Boot and grandchildren on the farm, circa 1949. Left to right: Lillian Hanos LaMonica, Roger Hanos, Maurice Crescenzi, the Boot, and Tony Boy Boiardo in the background. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) The Boot’s mansion, circa 1955. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Marion, the Boot’s mistress, with the Boot, Phyllis Balestro, and Rose Hanos at a bon voyage party; the Boot sent his daughters and his mistress on a whirlwind trip to Europe in 1954. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Roger sits in the lap of bad-boy actor and part-time gangster George Raft at the Boot’s mansion, 1956. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Roger and his confirmation sponsor, John “Big Pussy” Russo, 1959. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) The Boot and fans at Sammy’s Restaurant, Mendham, circa 1960. (Courtesy Roger Hanos) Reminiscing about the past, circa 1960. Left to right: Charlie “the Blade” Tourine, George Raft (back at the farm after being thrown out of Cuba by Fidel Castro), Rita Penna, Phyllis Boiardo Balestro. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Tony Boy leaves court after a hearing on the Club Fremont incident, 1960. (From the Collections of Newark Public Library) A typical Sunday afternoon swim party for family and guests at the main pool on the farm, circa 1965. (Courtesy Geraldine Bruno) Jersey Boys meet Jersey boys at Lillian Hanos’s wedding, 1966. Left to right: Frankie Valli, John “Big Pussy” Russo, Tommy DeVito, the Boot. (Courtesy Janet Hanos) The Boot and his Belgian shepherds on the farm, circa 1969. (Courtesy Rose Hanos) Richie the Boot and his girlfriend Edith Bencivengo at Roger’s wedding, May 31, 1970. (Courtesy Roger Hanos) Angelo Chieppa and his wife, Eleanor, at Roger’s wedding, May 31, 1970. (Courtesy Roger Hanos) The Boot tends to his tomatoes, circa 1974. (Courtesy Geraldine Bruno) In the Godfather Garden with Richie the Boot, 1974. (Courtesy Geraldine Bruno) Roger Hanos and his grandfather Richie the Boot toward the end of the Boot’s life, 1982. (Courtesy Janet Hanos) Roger Hanos at the Boot’s grave in Holy Cross Cemetery...