Al Tornabene

Alfonso "Al the Pizza Man" Tornabene (January 16, 1923 – May 17, 2009) was a Chicago-area resident who was reported by several newspapers to have been a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit crime organization.

Career as a pizzeria owner

In 1955, Tornabene opened the Villa Nova pizzeria in Stickney, Illinois. He and his family later expanded the business to three other locations around Chicago. However, he never had a criminal record of any kind.

Court records also showed that Tornabene had presided over a 1983 ceremony that made several mobsters full members of the Outfit, including Frank Calabrese, Sr. and Nicholas Calabrese. Several other men were apparently inducted at the ceremony, though due to their age and standing in the organization, they are thought to have been re-inducted.

In 2007, the Chicago Crime Commission's then-chief, James Wagner, told the Chicago Tribune that Tornabene was running the Outfit's activities in Chicago's south suburbs. However, Tornabene was never charged in the Family Secrets case. Zizzo's car was abandoned at a restaurant in Melrose Park, Illinois.

Death

Tornabene died on May 17, 2009, at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois, of complications related to peptic ulcer disease.

Personal

Tornabene's wife died in 1988. He was survived by one daughter, a sister and a granddaughter.

Tornabene was reported to be the cousin of Chicago Outfit boss Samuel Carlisi. He also was reported to have been the brother of Frank Tornabene, who was active in Outfit vice rackets.

Tornabene lived for most of his life in Stickney, Illinois.

Contrary to what was reported by ABC news, Al Tornabene was not related by marriage to Rod Blagojevich, nor was he related to Frank Tornabene. Tornabene had 2 brothers (Sam and Roy) and one sister. Roy had 3 kids Carmen Roy and Marie. Roy had a daughter and Carmen had 4 kids Nick Joe Roy and Gina. Joe has to daughters and Nick has a daughter and a son, Vincenzo.