Early Career
Born Anthony John Spilotro (pronounced spil-oh-tro according to William Roemer when he asked John Spilotro how Pasquale, Sr. pronounced it), he was nicknamed "Tony the Ant" by the media after FBI agent William F. Roemer, Jr. referred to Spilotro as "that little pissant". Since the media couldn't use "pissant", they shortened it to the "Ant". Ant is also short for Anthony. He was also called Tough Tony.
The fourth of six children, Spilotro was born and raised in Chicago. He attended Burbank Elementary School, and entered Steinmetz High School in 1953. His parents, Pasquale Spilotro, Sr. (who emigrated from Triggiano, in the Italian province of Bari, from the southeastern region of Puglia, and arrived at Ellis Island in 1914) and Antoinette Spilotro, ran Patsy's Restaurant. When Pasquale, Sr. arrived in America, however, he had no money, education, or particular skill. Unlike most Italian immigrants who settled in "The Patch," the Spilotros lived at 2152 North Melvina Avenue. Mobsters such as Salvatore "Sam" Giancana, Jackie "The Lackey" Cerone, Gus Alex and Francesco Nitti ("Frank The Enforcer") regularly dined at Patsy's, which was on the west side at Grand Avenue and Ogden Avenue, using its parking lot for mob meetings. In 1954, Pasquale Spilotro, Sr. suffered a fatal aneurysm and died at age 55.
Along with his brothers John, Vincent, Victor, and Michael, Tony became involved in criminal activity early in life. Another of Tony's brothers, Pasquale Spilotro, Jr., went on to college and became a highly respected oral surgeon in the Chicago area. Tony dropped out of Chicago's Steinmetz High School in his sophomore year and quickly became known for a succession of petty crimes such as shoplifting and purse snatching, with his first arrest occurring on January 11, 1955. He attempted to steal a shirt from a River Forest store and was charged with larceny. He was fined $10 and placed on probation.
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