Phillip T Paonessa

Calabria's Redemption Phillip T Paonessa

In 1916 Antonio Calabria immigrated from Italy to America. He brought with him his wife Tatiana and their five children. The family settled in the East Harlem section of New York City where Antonio opened a grocery store. The whole family worked there. Antonio wanted his family to take pride in the fact that they were helping people by feeding the neighborhood. The food had to be good quality, prices had to be fair, and the family had to be polite and helpful. That philosophy earned them love and adoration from the neighborhood. But that all changed when Francisco Borgota and his son moved into the city. The Borgatas made life miserable for the Calabrias, partly out of jealousy and partly for the kickbacks every neighborhood business like the Calabrias had to pay to the Black Hand. But it was the jealousy that drove Francisco the most. He wanted what Antonio had. So Francisco ordered the kidnapping of Antonio's son Paulo, and then Antonio was given a choice, "give up your wife or bury your son."