Aug 25, 2009 Article by Joseph Fosco | 221 comments

Mr. Michael G. Magnafichi

I know a man by the name of Michael. He can golf better than anyone I’ve ever met. According to many women, he is a very handsome fellow. I think he has a great sense of humor and can be very charming. He can certainly be the life of the party without even trying. He has been a dear pal of mine for a number of years.

Tragically, Michael was affected by negative influences early in his life. The root of this negative influence is the late Chicago Outfit Boss Jackie Cerone. Michael, who already had a wonderful dad of his own, came to think of Jackie as a second father figure. Jackie loved Michael as if Michael was his own son.

Michael served Cerone as an apprentice. The two were together night and day for nearly 10 years. This makes for an extraordinary circumstance. Jack Cerone is one of the most powerful Mob Bosses of all time. Michael experienced first-hand what mob-watchers could only dream about. During those years Jackie and Michael spent together, it was a common occurrence for Michael to find himself among people that most others could only read about. Some of these people include, Joe B (Anthony Accardo), Joe Aiuppa, Gus Alex, John DiFronzo and Willie Messino, Sr. In 1981 Michael even had a chance to meet Meyer Lansky, courtesy of his patron Jackie.

Michael was once of the largest bookmakers that Chicago had ever seen, though I believe that he has been retired from such illegal activity for at least 10 years. In the days when Michael was at the top of his game, you would never see him in the same threads twice. He certainly possessed a style and flair that most could only dream of. As a young man he had expensive automobiles and two thousand dollar sports coats, and was always surrounded by throngs of gorgeous women. He was so successful that, before turning 30, Michael managed to acquire one million dollars in cash that he tucked away in his safety deposit box.

Stuff like this made men like Rudy Fratto, Jr. sick to their stomachs with jealousy.

Most people that knew of Michael thought of him as the prince of the City of Chicago. State Senators like Jimmy DeLeo were at Michael’s beck and call. Judges like Joe Casciato, and others like him in boss Johnny DiFronzo’s pocket, gave Michael carte blanche. There was little this man could not accomplish. He was so influential that in the late 90s the Chicago Crime Commission listed Michael (with a slightly misspelled last name) as a Lieutenant for the Chicago Outfit.

As time passed tensions rose between Michael and John DiFronzo, the man who would eventually come to run the Outfit. Michael lost a lot of respect for DiFronzo when it became clear that John had little respect for Jackie Cerone and Michael’s father, Lee. This drove John and Michael increasingly apart.

While a personal conflict between him and the head of the Chicago Outfit could certainly have spelled ruin for Michael, his greater enemy would prove to be his own sense of responsibility to his friends and family.

Joseph Fosco and Michael G. Magnafichi
Michael’s big heart is what actually compromised his position in life. Michael gave his friends whatever they needed. Like a true Robin Hood, he took from wealthy people that he considered bad people, like Jack P. Cerone, Esquire (son of Jackie Cerone), so he could take care of good, albeit less fortunate, people. While Michael has no love for Jack P. Cerone, he feels a great deal of love for Cerone’s estranged wife Judy and her four daughters. In fact, Michael was involved in a romance many years ago, back when he was a rising Chicago gangster, with now Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jill Cerone-Marisie.

The turn of the century marked a new horizon for Michael. For the first time in Michael’s life he fell in love. She was a tall beautiful blonde-haired woman. While Michael had known many beautiful women in his lifetime, this one was like no other. Aside from her breathtaking appearance and genuine good nature, this woman is the daughter of one of the richest men in America. Most people might think that her wealth was the attraction, and for those who believe this, they obviously do not know Michael.

The only problem for Michael is that the love of his life is a married woman. Michael accepted this fact, deciding that he would not let it bother him. Sadly, the situation only enhanced his already compromised position in life, and made Michael emotionally vulnerable.

While Michael has proven his love for this woman many times over, letting her return to her husband, the sad love story continues to pause. The whole ordeal has left Michael in an extremely depressed state.

Some may think that this former apprentice to one of the most powerful Mob Bosses in World History has degenerated into a lovesick fool. The twists and turns of life, combined with chance and circumstance, may shape us, but in the end it is how we act, in times good and bad, that tells our story. Michael chose his friends first, making enemies of powerful men. He chose love first, even though that road ultimately held little hope for true happiness.

If we all could say these things of ourselves, I think the world would be a much better place.

I am glad to say Michael Magnafichi is my pal. He is living proof that anyone, despite past problems, can make it in the world. My thoughts and prayers are always with him.