When he was 20, Tomasello went to work for the Claremont Power Company, where he was put in charge of a dam construction project.
On July 4, 1925, a wall collapsed in the Pickwick Club, the building next to the excavation site, killing 44 people.
[5][6] By 1931, Tomasello had overseen the construction of 20 bridges in Boston, part of the MBTA subway, the Fields Corner station, the Boston Elevated Railway extension from Harrison Square to Geneva Street, and was beginning work on the George Wright Golf Course.
Tomasello led the project, which employed 900 carpenters, 200 electricians and plumbers, 100 plasterers, and 1800 laborers assisted by 638 trucks, 36 bulldozers, and 24 power shovels.
On December 8, 1932, representatives from 22 local civic groups who supported Tomasello gathered at the American House to adopt a plan of action if he chose to enter the race.
As he was departing the city, Tomasello was cheered by supporters and he promised an announcement on his political future when he returned.
[9] On July 4, 1933, Tomasello became the first Italian American to deliver the annual speech at the city's Independence Day celebration at Faneuil Hall.
In his speech, Tomasello highlighted the contributions Italian Americans, including Christopher Columbus, Americo Vespucci, Francis Vigo, and William Paca, had made to the country.
[10] On September 14, 1933, Tomasello announced that he would not run for mayor, citing business pressures that would not allow him to devote time to the campaign.
[16] In 1938, Suffolk Downs began running the Joseph A. Tomasello Memorial Handicap in honor of the track's builder.