Additional information
by Joseph Bonpensiero (Author)
Emblazoned across the cover of Time magazine on May 16, 1977, was the title, "The Mafia: Big, Bad and Booming." For most readers, this simply heralded a dramatic exposé on the intriguing world of organized crime; but for Joseph "Joe" Bonpensiero, this signaled a family story weighed down with way too much personal baggage.
As the nephew, or niputi, of the infamous Frank Bompensiero, Joe grew up under the shadow of the Mafia. And even though Joe's father, Sammy, had steered clear of his brother Frank's underhand dealings and violent inclinations, the whole family was considered tainted by association.
Discover the true story behind the shadowy figure as you watch a killer take shape through the eyes of his nephew. Detached from the blinding brotherly loyalty his father feels, Joe can smell the aroma of evil when his uncle enters a room. But, within the Sicilian value system, how can he love and respect his father when he spurns his father's brother?
A complex and candid memoir, Niputi offers a riveting glimpse into the conflicted life of an entire family who suffered because of the actions of one.
Author Biography
Joseph "Joe" Bonpensiero was born into a Sicilian family in the heart of San Diego's Little Italy. Working aboard the family fishing boat, he was a seasoned fisherman by his late teens. But with his father's encouragement, he chose to forgo the laborious and dangerous fishing life and instead pursued a USAF commission and a San Diego State College degree, later, earning a master's degree from Golden Gate University as well.
After his career in the air force, which included serving in Vietnam as well as nearly ten years of living and working abroad, Bonpensiero retired from the military and worked in aerospace and real estate before retiring again to pursue writing.
Bonpensiero's first book, Chocolate Moon, is a memoir recounting his childhood experiences at sea. Currently, he is working on a collection of short stories and poetry about his world travels and a memoir of his time in Vietnam.
