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Last of the Gladiators: A Memoir of Love, Redemption, and the Mob
From the 1960s until the turn of the 21st century, New York City was the world's epicenter of organized and white-collar crime. During those four decades, the most feared Mafia chiefs, assassins, defrocked stockbrokers, Orthodox Jewish money-launderers, and Arab bankers sought the counsel of one man: my father, Jimmy LaRossa, a Kennedy-era prosecutor who became the defense lawyer of first resort.
On January 30, 2009, I snuck my famous and mortally ill father from New York-Presbyterian Hospital to a waiting Medevac jet, where we flew in secret to a place few people would look for two die-hard New Yorkers: a town in Southern California aptly named Manhattan Beach.
During our five years in exile, we, "the LaRossa boys" as we came to be known, made our mark as a most irreverent and unrivaled father/son duo. While I cooked him his favorite Italian dishes and kept him alive using the most up-to-date equipment and drugs, he recounted his legendary courtroom exploits.
Not only is Last of the Gladiators a memoir about some of the seminal legal events of a generation, but it's also a love story between a father and son―a theme not often seen in American arts and letters. Not until I wrote this story, though, did I realize that I had not saved my father. He, in fact, saved me. By addressing my own mental health issues, I realized that I became a better man and father thanks to him―a more joyous, grateful, and grounded soul.
On January 30, 2009, I snuck my famous and mortally ill father from New York-Presbyterian Hospital to a waiting Medevac jet, where we flew in secret to a place few people would look for two die-hard New Yorkers: a town in Southern California aptly named Manhattan Beach.
During our five years in exile, we, "the LaRossa boys" as we came to be known, made our mark as a most irreverent and unrivaled father/son duo. While I cooked him his favorite Italian dishes and kept him alive using the most up-to-date equipment and drugs, he recounted his legendary courtroom exploits.
Not only is Last of the Gladiators a memoir about some of the seminal legal events of a generation, but it's also a love story between a father and son―a theme not often seen in American arts and letters. Not until I wrote this story, though, did I realize that I had not saved my father. He, in fact, saved me. By addressing my own mental health issues, I realized that I became a better man and father thanks to him―a more joyous, grateful, and grounded soul.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2019
9 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
James M. LaRossa Jr.
1 book3 followersJames M. LaRossa Jr. was born in Brooklyn, NY, He is a publisher, journalist, and third-generation New Yorker.
LaRossa spent four years in the writing department at Sarah Lawrence College. In 1984, he left Fordham Law School to become a journalist for The International Courier in Rome, Italy. LaRossa has almost 1,000 bylines in subjects as varied as literature, medicine, and business.
Upon his return to New York City, he wrote for Fairchild and ABC/Cap Cities, before founding MedWorks Media Inc., one of the largest publishers in psychiatry, drug development, and mental fitness. In 2006, he relocated permanently to Southern California.
His dying father, the famous trial lawyer and political insider Jimmy LaRossa, joined him in Manhattan Beach, California, on January 30, 2010.
In the last five years of his life, the legendary attorney revealed to his eldest son and confidant the most closely-held secrets to more than a generation of New York City’s organized and white- collar crimes.
LaRossa spent four years in the writing department at Sarah Lawrence College. In 1984, he left Fordham Law School to become a journalist for The International Courier in Rome, Italy. LaRossa has almost 1,000 bylines in subjects as varied as literature, medicine, and business.
Upon his return to New York City, he wrote for Fairchild and ABC/Cap Cities, before founding MedWorks Media Inc., one of the largest publishers in psychiatry, drug development, and mental fitness. In 2006, he relocated permanently to Southern California.
His dying father, the famous trial lawyer and political insider Jimmy LaRossa, joined him in Manhattan Beach, California, on January 30, 2010.
In the last five years of his life, the legendary attorney revealed to his eldest son and confidant the most closely-held secrets to more than a generation of New York City’s organized and white- collar crimes.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 16, 2019
A very interesting side door look at one particular lawyer who just so happened to represent some particular people of Italian descent in New York City. Some great stories, most probably never heard in public before. Travel back to New York's Southern District where Rudy Giuliani is making a name for himself with RICO cases, unless, of course, Jimmy La Rossa gets in the way.
September 20, 2019
This book showcases the life of a gladiator and a hero. Jimmy LaRossa’s life was an adventure, one that James LaRossa has narrated in gritting, comical, heartwarming detail. The snapshots that James shares of his father show an undying love and devotion to not only an inspiring man but a great father.
Although this is a memoir of Jimmy LaRossa’s life, James LaRossa also inherited his father’s luck and showmanship. This can be seen through the tales of Jimmy and James, as well as his interactions with major players associated with Jimmy and celebrities living in New York at the time.
Beyond the life of James and Jimmy is the historical and true crime aspect of the book. Jimmy’s life took place during a riveting moment in New York’s history. Reading this memoir takes you on an unforgettable ride at that moment with one of New York’s toughest lawyers.
Overall, a captivating piece about family, love, and politics.
Although this is a memoir of Jimmy LaRossa’s life, James LaRossa also inherited his father’s luck and showmanship. This can be seen through the tales of Jimmy and James, as well as his interactions with major players associated with Jimmy and celebrities living in New York at the time.
Beyond the life of James and Jimmy is the historical and true crime aspect of the book. Jimmy’s life took place during a riveting moment in New York’s history. Reading this memoir takes you on an unforgettable ride at that moment with one of New York’s toughest lawyers.
Overall, a captivating piece about family, love, and politics.
October 15, 2019
Famous courtroom trials, historical legal precedent and Mafia crime family chronicles are not really what this book is about. Rest assured, the life and times of James LaRossa is an odyssey that leaps through the page turning headlines touching virtually every mob boss, district attorney and power broker in NYC from the 60’s through the 90’s revealed through an intimate diary of the son whose father many consider to be the best prosecutor and defense attorney of his time.
What also emerges for the reader, that I suspect most will agree, is that the real heart of this book is a love story between a son and his father. In the shadow of what was a larger than life existence, a son uncovers a lesson for all in an imperfect, impersonal and unforgettable world. A love story we can all relate to.
What also emerges for the reader, that I suspect most will agree, is that the real heart of this book is a love story between a son and his father. In the shadow of what was a larger than life existence, a son uncovers a lesson for all in an imperfect, impersonal and unforgettable world. A love story we can all relate to.
November 14, 2019
Exceptionally compelling, intriguing, honest, irreverent and insightful. It is an inside view of lives and worlds rarely afforded to the general public. It is also a beautiful biography of the intertwined lives of a giant of a father and a devoted son. I loved it. Clearly written from the heart with a very talented pen.
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February 19, 2020This book was written by the son of the attorney for the mobsters. It was a loving tribute to his father and gave us insight on how he managed to outfox the judicial system until he couldn't.
September 14, 2019
I hope you will let me know what you think of Last of the Gladiators — a bittersweet memoir about life with my father (a famous criminal trial lawyer) during the heyday of organized crime in New York City. The book is a deep dive into the darkly comedic world of the "LaRossa Boys.'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2019
This is a book about my father in law, written by my ex-husband. While I was privy to many of my FIL’s stories and antics, I learned a lot about his landmark legal cases. It’s a fun, interesting read. Well done, James.
May 31, 2019
I read an ARC of this book.
This book was fascinating and well written.
This book was fascinating and well written.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews