Choices: You Make 'em You Own 'em: The Jerry Tillinghast Story Paperback – October 23, 2018

Joe Broadmeadow paints a portrait of a man who has been there and back again, who very nearly lost it all, and yet was able to maintain his dignity throughout his dealings in a very undignified world. Jerry isn't a saint, and he's very up front about his life, but in coming clean, perhaps he is able to reclaim some of the humanity so many of his fellows in the underworld lose completely. We all know the stories of the sadistic men in the mob--the Steven Flemmis, the Sam DeStefanos, the Thomas Piteras--but Jerry wasn't that sort. He was a hard man, and did bad things, but through it all, he maintained the fundamental sense of right and wrong that none of the men of his tradition adhere to. Jerry's code of silence, basically his honor, was his entire undoing, first in Vietnam, and later in Providence.The book follows Tillinghast's life, from growing up in Providence to heading off to the Marine Corps. It reads somewhat like Pat Nee's story. In Vietnam, Jerry became enmeshed in one of the awful tragic situations that would come to characterize that war, and despite the objections of many high ranking officers who spoke in his favor, Jerry was made a scapegoat, and in a way, his fate was sealed. When so many doors in a young man's life are closed to him before he has even begun, when he is labeled a criminal tight out of the gate, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Broadmeadow takes great pains to illustrate that criminal behavior often comes from somewhere, it isn't spontaneously generated.Jerry's resourcefulness and work ethic helped him rise through the ranks in the Patriarca Office-- criminals appreciate a little hustle and hard work un the youngsters. His "random" proximity to a hell of a lot of murders is disheartening, but criminals do criminal things, and then they are less than honest about it. Jerry's story is about as close to honesty as one will get from someone in 'the life'.And then there's the inevitable fall. The truth that wasn't covered in Crimetown, and you've got to read every last page to get to it, but it's a gut punch.Jerry lived the life. He rose a criminal, and he fell a criminal, and like so many criminals, he took others with him: his brother, his children, his wives...they all suffered as a result of Jerry's actions, but to his credit, he tried to make up for it. With mixed results, he tried to look after his children, same for his second wife. He could have done more for his brother, but his brother got him started to begin with, so turn around, I suppose. This book is not an exoneration or a pardon. Jerry did bad things, and bad things were done to him. He put himself in a position where he could fall, and he fell, but as he says, it was his choice. Rarely do men like Jerry take responsibility for (most) of their actions like Jerry is, and it makes for a refreshing book. The writing has a few weak points, but it is difficult to write a story as someone else narrates, so Broadmeadow is to be forgiven. He has chosen an interesting subject, and this is a hell of a good book.

It wasn’t hard to read the entire book while on a cross country flight. It gives great insight into the lifestyle of providence mobsters and paints a great picture of the not so glamorous life. The book does a great job of describing Jerry’s life from start to finish and the crazy stores he tells keeps you coming back for more. Great book! if you’re into organized crime/mob books, it’s definitely worth the read!

Since I’m from the Area were events took place. Wasn’t what I thought it will be.

First of all I am originally from Rhode Island. Second I am Italian American and born in Providence during the boom years of the Cosa Nostra. I remember Jerry Tillinghast and all of his associates. I was a big fan of Crimetown. I have read all the books about organized crime in the Southeastern New England area. Some I have read more than once. I read Jerry's book in one day. I could not put it down. I know people who have seen and been around Jerry since he got out of Prison. They all say that he is a gentleman. I have heard him speak on a few occasions and he is very well spoken and intelligent. If you are into Organized Crime you will notice a lot of the book is about things that are already known. If you are not from the area you may not be as interested as someone like myself. The book is not a bunch of B. S. I remember those days. Whenever I went to Federal Hill I behaved my self and minded my own business. Jerry was, shall we say, "The Real Deal". There is no doubt about that. But I do have to say that after listening to Jerry speak and reading his book that I believe he is being sincere.

I grew up knowing the ‘feared mafia enforcer’ as uncle Jerry, the man who faithfully called to check in on his family from prison and always had time to ask me — a kid who’d just lost her own family and was adopted by another — how she was doing, too. All my late father ever told me was that he was “a good man who did some bad things to some bad people.” My dad was a good man himself, so I accepted the explanation without question. As an adult, I feel the same way. Uncle Jerry is a good man, and I hope all who read this understand that fact.I am wholeheartedly convinced Harold wasn’t in the car. I’ve never spoken with uncle Jerry about this and nor will I ever ask; it’s not my business. But I know that’s a question on everyone’s minds and I implore you, again, to consider the facts. Read to the last page — really read, don’t just move from one word to the next — and tell me you don’t feel the same. Was uncle Jerry dangerous? Absolutely. Did he do some bad things? Obviously. But he didn’t lie about Harold not being there with Basmajian.Captain Broadmeadow presents the most balanced case for organized crime in RI I’ve ever read. Even that term is funny to me now, because it’s so often abused. We consider men who steal from other criminals “bad,” but we think nothing of the churches who hold out hands to good people under the guise of ‘going to Heaven,’ all the while refusing to pay taxes to help their struggling communities and never disclosing their own sordid affairs beneath the surface. That’s the point of this book, to me, anyway: there’s no such things as good or bad. There are only choices. Some are small, some are not, all decide your life. Uncle Jerry and Captain Broadmeadow ask that you simply consider your choices, and consider the facts and motivations behind the choices of others before judging them yourself. Knowledge is power.Make a choice to truly read this book and see what it means to you.