Mob hit man Raymond Ferritto died on May 10 of congestive heart failure. He was 75.
A native of Erie, Pa., Ferritto was hired by the Cleveland Mob in 1977 to kill Danny Greene, a member of the Irish Mob. Godfather James "Jack White" Licavoli and Underboss Angelo "Big Ange" Lonardo were in a turf war with Greene. When they learned he planned to visit his dentist, Licavoli and Lonardo contracted Ferritto to assassinate him.
While Greene was getting his teeth examined, Ferritto and Ronald "The Crab" Carabbia planted a bomb in the passenger side door of his car. As the Irish mobster opened the door to his car, Carabbia triggered the bomb and blew up the vehicle, killing Greene.
Artist Debbie Spotz saw Ferritto at the scene of the bombing and drew a detailed sketch of his face. She gave the rendition and Ferritto's license plate number to her father, a local police officer. The state of Ohio used the sketch and other evidence to indict Licavoli, Lonardo, Ferritto, Carabbia and 15 other members of the Cleveland Family.
After his arrest, Ferritto heard that the Mob had taken a contract out on him. So he cut a deal, turned state's witness and testified in the 1978 trial. On the stand, Ferritto admitted to being hired by the Cleveland Mob family and participating in Greene's murder. Carabbia and his associate, Pasquale "Butchie" Cisternino, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Everyone else walked. Cisternino died behind bars in 1990 and Carabbia was paroled in 2002.
Ferritto, who also claimed responsibility for the 1969 slaying of Cleveland gangster Julius Anthony Petro, served less than four years in prison for both killings. He retired from the "business" in 2000, and moved to Florida.
Posted on May 15, 2004 8:00 AMHe was my grandfather
Posted by Thomas M. Ferritto on March 2, 2005 8:04 PMJohn if he is your grandfather what is your parents names, because he was mine and I have never heard of you. Angela Ferritto
Hey Angela, it comes down to this, everybody wants to be a gangster, or be related to one.
Posted by paul weisenbach on May 2, 2005 11:09 AMMy Mother Esterina Difranco-Schneider was a first cousin to Raymond Ferritto. Her mother Pasqua DiFranco and Michael Ferritto(Aunt Rose) were very close. I have a photo dated 1939 of Raymond and his siblings. I am searching for photos that are dated much later. Please help!! Thanks
Posted by Denise (Schneider)Frank on May 8, 2006 11:07 AMIf anyone truly knew my grandfather you wouldn't be on here bragging about it. Angela is right and for those people that don't know I am now the true Raymond Ferritto
Posted by Raymond Ferritto on July 4, 2006 12:01 PMI saw Ray Ferritto on a mafia documentary once giving an interview and he truly seemed to be a nice, calm kind of guy. He transmitted tranquility. Also looks like a good friend of mine from Massachussets named David Munsay (who is half Italian). Ciao
Posted by Joe on July 6, 2006 5:50 PMHe is My Grandpa im 11 years old and visted him in prison every month. My Grandpa
Posted by Rionna Carabbia on November 19, 2006 9:44 AMWish to talk to Esterine Ferritto....my special friend from the early 50's....
Ricardo Petit
Posted by Dick on December 26, 2006 7:42 PMHe was my dads Ex-wife father.
I remember him taking me to fancy resturants and he even paid for our vacation to disneyland when i was little. I dont care what he did, He always treated me good, and for that, i will truly miss him
Rest in Peace,
Sean S.
the last don is who i am and ray ray you are the true raymond ferrito i never knew your grandfather but i knew you and your mom.
life is grand and those who speak ill words of the dead get soft spoken with a bullet to the head remeber the trueness of them all for greats are the ones who fall a tribute from the last don
Posted by the last don on June 30, 2007 11:43 AMRicardo Petit... Are you looking for Esterine Ferritto of ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA? She is deceased.
Posted by Denise(Schneider)Frank on July 1, 2007 3:59 PMDoes anyone know if this man was related to a Albert Ferrito who lived or lives in Cleveland Ohio? Thanks!
Posted by mia on August 18, 2007 4:33 AMI do remember Ray Ferrito as one of our substitute teachers at Academy High School in Erie PA in early 70's.
Am I correct?
Posted by Eileen on September 23, 2007 12:40 AMAccording to my father, I am distantly related to Pasquale "Butchie" Cisternino. My great grandfather Luigi had a brother named Mike (Michele in Italian) - they came from an area near Bari in Italy and first came to New York. Luigi stayed in New York, and Mike went out West, settling in Cleveland. Butchie was either his son or his grandson - a distant cousin of my father. I remember hearing about him as a boy, something about a talent for car bombs. I didn't know he passed away in prison - I'm sorry to hear that. My condolences to the family.
- Don Cisternino
This is for Mia who posted here
I'm cousin to Albert and Raymond Ferritto of Cleveland, Ohio
Posted by XXX on December 18, 2007 9:13 PMfor the cousin of albert ferrito in cleveland,oh-xxx- do you know if this is the same Albert who once was married to a Swedish woman and they had a son? thanks so much!
Posted by mia on January 8, 2008 10:46 PMRay Ferrito was a dirtbag thief, murderer, all around bag of crap.
Posted by Larry Benderson on June 12, 2008 11:49 AMlol @ "He transmitted tranquility".
Are you an idiot?
He put hot 9.0678 mm slugs in people's brain pans.
He wasn't "tranquil" you imbecile. He was a mob hitman.
Posted by Luca on September 24, 2008 12:47 AMThis is for Don Cisternino, where ru from?? Butchies adopted son just died, Billy, about eight mos ago. Who exactly are you related to? My family is from Bari, near Puglia, and we all came over together, and then settled in the Woodland area, and then Collinwood. I have nevfer heard of you, but that doesn't mean anything. Butchie went away on that Danny Greene thing w/Carrabia, and Tommy Sinito. Ronnie the Crab was the only one to make it out alive............Ray was the rat that testified against them all, because Jack White, the boss then wanted him whacked!
Posted by Jimmy Ugotz on September 30, 2008 1:09 PM