Career
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. Tornabene began his career in the Outfit as a bookie.
However, he never had a criminal record of any kind. Tornabene was identified as being a lieutenant for the Outfit's West Side Crew, which at that time was run by Anthony Centracchio. Subsequently, Tornabene was identified as having helped to run the Chicago Outfit while its then-boss, James Marcello, was imprisoned between 1992 and 2003.
Tornabene had presided over the ceremony along with Joseph Aiuppa, Nicholas Calabrese told federal investigators. 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. In 2009, Tornabene was identified as having been an original target in the Operation Family Secrets mob investigation in 2002, an investigation that ultimately sent Chicago Outfit members James Marcello, Joseph Lombardo and Frank Calabrese, Sr. to federal prison for life.
However, Tornabene was never charged in the Family Secrets case. One of Tornabene's associates, Anthony Zizzo, disappeared on August 31, 2006 after leaving his house in Westmont, Illinois. Zizzo's car was abandoned at a restaurant in Melrose Park, Illinois.
Tornabene died on May 17, 2009 at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois of complications related to peptic ulcer disease. Tornabene's wife died in 1988. Tornabene was reported to be the cousin of Chicago Outfit boss Samuel Carlisi.
He also was reported to have been the brother of the late Frank Tornabene, who was active in Chicago Outfit vice rackets. Tornabene lived for most of his life in Stickney, Illinois.
