Philly Tea Party Ass'n. Remembers Joey Vento

A special message from Don Adams of  Philadelphia's Independence Hall Tea Party Association:

As we prepared for 9/11 remembrances and our We the People 2011 Commemoration on Constitution Day, September 17, the last thing we imagined we'd be doing was burying our dear friend, Joe Vento.

On the mend from his successful cancer treatment last year, Joey appeared to be in amazingly good health.  For that reason, his death came as a tremendous shock to us all.

We are still recovering from the loss. 

At least 15 Association members attended Saturday's viewing and Mass.

It was a most appropriate setting--the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

Outside the impressive brownstone structure, the grayish clouds began unleashing hurricane rains as if sharing in the grief of those gathered on the opposite side of the walls.

Inside, as the viewing ended and the casket was closed, Joey Vento's devoted friend and vocal champion, Dom Giordano, delivered a eulogy befitting the humble South Philly hero and his remarkable life.

The grandeur of the basilica--with its elegant chandeliers, glorious Christian imagery, and heavenly sounding organ--served as a reassuring reminder that Joey had not died, but had passed from this world to the next. 

Father Gary Pacitti, Joey's spiritual mentor and homilist, provided us with a glimpse of a soul that was Joey Vento.

Father Pacitti described a man who, confounded by the suffering of others, wanted to better understand why 'the Big Guy' allowed such things to happen--a question, certainly, for the ages.

The wonder of Joey, however, wasn't that he pondered the suffering of others--it was that he sprung into action to provide relief.

Whether it was to answer the cry of a nearby neighbor, fill the financial 

need of a local parish, or alleviate the anguish of a slain officer's

widow--Joey was always there.

Whatever the problem, if Joey Vento got wind of it, he was providing an answer--a one man Mr. Fixit for an entire region.

Yet, while Father Pacitti never mentioned it, many sitting in the pews undoubtedly remembered that Joey's concerns spanned well beyond the community to the nation as a whole. 

From his defense of the First Amendment to his promotion of private

healthcare and his campaign to secure the borders, Joey, the Patriot, unabashedly loved his country and demonstrated it routinely.

He opened his wallet, his restaurant, and his heart to the Tea Party Movement.  Just last year, he sponsored weekly radio spots on WNTP 

so that many of the area's Tea Party groups could introduce themselves to the public at large. 

Initially, these groups were unaware that Joey was their benefactor as he sought to keep his sponsorship completely anonymous. 

Joey assisted the Association in a very different and direct way.

At several major Tea Party events, including our first in April 2009 and our last on July 4th, 2011, he spoke, at length, with his trademark candor and charismatic charm.   

Whenever we asked, he bought program booklet ads to support our work.  He would even call us up, from time to time, to offer words of encouragement and sound advice.

On April 15 of this year, Joey hosted a Tax Day Tea Party at Geno's Steaks, and along with WPHT, honored the Tea Party on its second anniversary with a specially ordered birthday cake.  

We honored him with our 2011 Patriot of the Year Award.

Simply put, Joey, for us, was a solid source of inspiration and a constant reminder to do the right thing.

As we sat listening to Father Pacitti's closing remarks, many of us were on the verge of tears.   The loss of Joey Vento caused a measure of

suffering that not even Joey could comfort.

In our quiet sadness, we stood watching as Joey's composed wife and son guided his casket out of the church to its final resting place.

We imagined Joey's spirit was already talking with 'the Big Guy'--asking Him a lot of tough questions.

Read More...

Philly Tea Party Remembers Joey Vento

While remembering his remarkable contribution to the Tea Party movement, members of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association are mourning the loss of Joey Vento, who died yesterday of a massive heart attack.  

"Joey Vento,  recipient of our 2011 Patriot of the Year Award, will never be forgotten--he is simple irreplaceable,"  said Association President, Teri Adams.

"The April 18 Press Release (below) sums up our Association's view of a genuine Tea Party hero and legend."  

  

Teri Adams Announces Joey Vento as

Tea Party Choice for 2011 Patriot of the Year

Live on WPHT's Dom Giordano Show 

  

Association Names Joey Vento 2011 Patriot of the Year;

 Says Vento Exemplifies the Entrepreneurial and Civic Spirit

the Movement Espouses

Philadelphia, PA (April 18, 2011) -- The President of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association has announced that businessman Joey Vento has been unanimously chosen by its Board of Directors to receive the "2011 Patriot of the Year Award" for his Entrepreneurial and Civic contributions at the local, regional, and national levels.

Speaking at a Tea Party held April 15 at Geno's Steaks (a restaurant Mr. Vento established in 1966 at the corner of 9th and Passyunk) and carried live on WPHT's Dom Giordano Show, Association President Teri Adams explained why Mr. Vento was chosen.

"Joey Vento has been a friend to Philadelphia, the region, and the nation," said Ms. Adams. "As a South Philadelphia businessman and employer, 

Mr. Vento has benefited the local economy.  As a philanthropist, he has supported justice for fallen police officer Daniel Faulkner, an array of regional law enforcement causes, and various other charities. 

"As a concerned American, Mr. Vento has been an outspoken proponent of legal immigration--backing Arizona in its struggle to enforce the laws on its books against the intervention of the Federal government, " Ms. Adams said.  "He has defended the First Amendment, advocated for superior health care, and promoted the Tea Party Movement."

Several Years ago, the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission tried to penalize Mr. Vento for posting a sign on the wall of his establishment, which read, "When Ordering, Please Speak English."   Mr. Vento fought the 

Commission and eventually prevailed.

More recently,  Mr. Vento, who was diagnosed with cancer and successfully treated, has taken to the airwaves--buying radio spots comparing the advantages of the private American healthcare system to the deficiencies of socialized medicine.

"Joey Vento spoke at our very first Tea Party two years ago," said Ms. Adams.  "The nearly two thousand participants loved his heartfelt sincerity, his honesty, and his common sense.  He is the Tea Party Movement."

The "2011 Patriot of the Year Award" will be officially presented to Mr. Vento at the Association's Energy Independence Day Tea Party to be

held July 4 from 1-4 PM on Independence Mall, 5th and Market Streets.

Read More...

Joey: Only In Philadelphia, Only In America!

In school, he never got past the sixth grade.
His father and his brother were criminals.
Growing up, he said he was called "dago, wop -- all those names."
He was a street kid, but his instincts were good and he was able to roll with the punches.
In 1966, with only six bucks in his pocket and a $1,000 loan from his father-in-law, he started a business -- a business that didn't even bear his own name.
But everybody knew him and many came to love and revere him.
By the time he passed away yesterday at age 71, he was an international celebrity and a multimillionaire whose name had become synonymous with the Philly Cheesesteak.
With just one shop in just one location, Joey Vento presided over Geno's Steaks, a business that reportedly brought in more than $7 million a year.
No matter how successful he was or how much money he made, nothing kept Joey from the hard, constant, daily grind of the business. He often arrived on site at 4 A. M. He took pride in his shop, its strategic South Philly location, his employees and most of all in the people who flocked to his business -- the customers and colorful characters who lined up around the clock to buy a Geno's Cheesesteak.
And Joey never forgot the neighborhood -- he never forgot his beginnings, his roots. Joey's tough demeanor belied a soft heart. In South Philly and well beyond, he was "Mr. Compassion."  Just a part of Joey's legacy: He spent more than $100,000 to support an Elton John AIDS-awareness concert. He raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for police charities. He donated $60,000 worth of food a year to a hospice. And anonymously, he helped countless people who needed help.
The story goes that Joey got the name "Geno's" from a kid's name that was scrawled on the door of what was to become his legendary eatery. Maybe Joey thought the name was good luck. Maybe he thought it was catchy. Or maybe -- just like Joey -- he wasn't thinking of himself at all. He didn't see himself as the star. He simply wanted to reach out to someone else. You can be sure the kid who scrawled that name on the door became a customer -- and a fan.
Click here to read more on the life of Joey Vento.

Read More...

Joey Vento's Loss Makes Philly Less Authentic

Philadelphia lost a real-life leader today with the death of Joey Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks.
Joey Vento was a local legend and a champion of the American Dream. He was an American success story -- a hugely successful businessman, a generous, helpful neighbor and a courageous citizen who was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in. In an age when authenticity is hard to come by, he was the Real Deal. In many ways, he epitomized the spirit -- the heart and soul -- of Philadelphia.
Joey may not have considered himself a leader but he was exactly that. And he encouraged, inspired and cheerfully supported many others who needed help.
Like I said, Joey was authentic. And that made him more credible than most of the city's better educated, finer coiffed and better dressed politicians and business, civic and community leaders -- many of who never learned or long since forgot what it means to be "real."
Joey understood that being authentic and remaining true yourself is hard work.
And no one worked harder than Joey.
It takes discipline to succeed. Joey knew who he was -- and what he wanted. And he wasn't afraid to work for it AND be himself..
Yes, authentic leaders know who they are. They are comfortable in their own skin. Their own quiet, practiced belief in themselves is what moves them to inspire others.
And they do that by first spending lots of time really listening to the people they hope to inspire. Joey listened to his customers and his neighbors and his fellow citizens. He heard them. And he set a fine example for them.
In a world full of cowards, genuine personalities are called on to chart new paths, take risks and even show a bit of old-fashioned courage now and then. Joey was fearless.
Authentic people are imperfect. They're distinctive, quirky and even eccentric.
Joey Vento was all of those things.
And we loved him for it.
Thanks, Joey! We will miss you.

Read More...