Bomb City, USA

The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia

An intriguing and shocking photo history of the once powerful Cleveland Mafia


Author, musician, and former Lyndhurst police chief Rick Porrello presents an intriguing and shocking photo history of the once powerful Cleveland Mafia, featuring the sugar war, the numbers racket, and notorious organized crime figures Shondor Birns, Danny Greene and Angelo “Big Ange” Lonardo.


A Q&A session will follow the presentation. Rick’s books will be for sale at last year's prices, and he’ll be available for autographing or personalizing. Pre-order books on the registration page (pay for books at the event, check or cash only).


Fundraiser Dinner

and Presentation: Thursday, June 25

Doors at 5:00PM

Dinner served at 5:30PM, followed by dessert and Rick's presentation at 6:30PM

Lyndhurst Community Center

1341 Parkview Dr., Lyndhurst, OH 44124

Tickets ($40 per person) include buffet dinner (Chicken parm with pasta, salad, roll, dessert. Vegetarian entree option available) plus the presentation and book signing/photo ops afterward.


Proceeds to benefit CPA’s food distribution programs.


Register Here!

  • Here's Rick in 2009 with actor, Ray Stevenson, on the set  of "Kill the Irishman" (2011)

  • Danny Greene's first mugshot, in 1959

  • Danny Greene murder scene, 1977, Brainard Place Medical Building parking lot. 

  • The replica of the directional box used in the bombing murder of Danny Greene. Built by the Lyndhurst Service Dept.

    and Lyndhurst Detective Bureau for use in court. 


  • Here's Rick in 2009 with actor, Vincent D'Onofrio, on the set of "Kill the Irishman" (2011)

Did you know that Rick Porrello's book, To Kill the Irishman, was the basis for the movie, "Kill the Irishman" (2011)? 


Clevelanders are sure to recall that "The Irishman" Danny Greene finally met his demise via car bomb at the Brainard Place Medical Building in Lyndhurst, Ohio - right in CPA's service area - in 1977.


Prior to that, there were 37 bombings in Cuyahoga County  in a two-year period – 21 of them in the city of Cleveland and 16 in the suburbs - and the FBI estimates that Danny Greene was involved in three of every four bombings. This intense violence earned Cleveland the nickname, "Bomb City, USA."


Join us on June 25 as Rick Porrello takes us through a visual journey through the violent rise and fall of Cleveland's mafia, featuring rare photos and exclusive behind-the-scenes stories!




Click through the image sliders below for info about each of our event sponsors:


Event Sponsor: Care Patrol

Dessert Sponsor: Gates Mills Club

Beverage Sponsor: BW-IRL (Institute for Learning in Retirement)

Supporting Sponsors: Home Instead Senior Care