At 11:20AM on Friday, November 23, 1962, Youngstown, Ohio Gangster Charles (Cadillac Charlie) Cavallaro and his 11 year old son Tommy are killed by a car bomb. Cavallaro’s 12-year old son Chucky is wounded but survived but was hurt for life with a hip injury as a result. Cadillac Charlie was once deported after he was linked to Detroit’s notorious Purple gang. He loved fine cars and had just took his two sons out of school for the Thanksgiving holiday. They walked out of their luxurious home just before noon to go on a drive. As Cavallaro touched the starter, a powerful explosion killed the man and his in son in the front seat, seriously injuring the other boy approaching the car. According to FBI records, the car was a 1956 Ford which was parked in the private garage at the rear of the Cavallaro home. The bomb appeared to be made of dynamite and caused extensive damage to the surrounding area. It is further to be noted the highest point of the rubble which remained from the car and the brick garage, was not higher than three feet from the level of the ground in any place, as all was completely demolished. The blast also blew a hole int he concrete floor of the garage to a depth of two feet.

Charlie ‘Cadillac’ Cavallaro was a self proclaimed grape salesman but police believe he had mafia ties. He planned to drive from his home here on Roslyn drive to downtown to pay a bill and drop his two young sons off at football practice along the way. This bomb blast shook the nation and officially put a federal target on organized crime.