Having sold Cigarette for the last time in 1982 (after having sold it and purchasing it back in the late 1970s while merging it with his own Squadron Marine), he formed USA Racing Team and built the Blue Thunders, 39-foot catamarans used by the United States Customs Service to patrol U.S. waters and run down illegal offshore activities, especially drug smuggling. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. This is a great space to write long text about your company and your services. As the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Aronow lay dying, one of the rescue squad members who rushed to the scene asked: "Who is this guy? Its subtitle is an accurate one: "How the Mafia Owned and Finally Murdered Cigarette Boat King Donald Aronow.". His first boat was made from wood and broke apart. Michael Dobbsis a former foreign correspondent and State Department reporter for The Washington Post. Aronow, 59, a rich and handsome millionaire among the powerboat set, was killed Feb. 3, 1987, outside his USA Racing office in 188th St, Miami the road dubbed Thunderboat Alley Aronow made famous with his Formula, Donzi, Magnum and Cigarette power boats. When a Miami Herald reporter asked him for a one-word description of the boats he liked to build, he suggested, Erotic.. "It looks to me like a crime of passion," said Crouse, who knew Aronow for over 20 years. Like many boat builders along the street, Theodoli heard the gun shots ring out. Aronow's close friend at the time, Vice President George Bush, was a former Cigarette owner and was involved in testing out the 39-foot cats prior to government approval. . Writer, talker, and editor for hire covering the full cultural gamut. March 3 (UPI) -- The lesion that President Joe Biden had removed from his chest last month during his physical was a common type of skin cancer, his physician said Friday. After divorcing his first wife, Shirley, with whom he had three children, Aronow married Lillian Crawford, a Wilhelmina fashion model and socialite. After the memorial service, friends and rivals recalled Aronows dynamism and intense sense of competition. "of speedboats on the street near bis office. Restrictions: Contact your local office for all commercial or promotional uses. Visitation and funeral Thursday. If it's true, Bush can be viewed as a celebrity-worshiping goof, a bad chooser of friends, or both. March 3 (UPI) -- The legal team representing former President Donald Trump has formally requested a six-month delay in the fraud civil case filed against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Saccenti was a boyhood friend of Aronow's from Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, N.Y., a marine mechanic who Aronow brought to South Florida to work with him at the Cigarette boat factory. ARONOW'S BOATS GAVE HIM access to a rich and exotic world. The possibilities are as varied as was Aronows life style, which his friends say was a constant quest for excitement in the forms of money, women, success and--above all--speed. Over the years Aronow sold many of his boats to presumed drug runners, those who paid with suitcases full of cash. Both had hot tempers and were hands-on types of guys. Lillian can be reached by phone at (305) 345-8835 (Nextel Communications, Inc). EN. Lillian is Aronow's second wife -- a former Palm Beach socialite, heiress and high fashion model. Their son is menswear designer Adam Kimmel who is also the husband of actress Leelee Sobieski. I was very upset I was betrayed by my own family, Young told a federal agent in 2004. It contains an amazing blend of breathtaking photographs, fascinating anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories of Aronow's personal and professional life. His boats also have ended up in the hands of leading drug syndicates. March 3 (UPI) -- A former U.S. soldier was sentenced to 45 years in prison Friday for planning a deadly ambush on members of his military unit. There has been speculation drugs played a role in the murder. WITH THE NEWS OF YOUNG'S ARREST, BOBBY Saccenti, owner of Apache Marine (not to be confused with Ben Kramer's Fort Apache Marina), seemed like a man under siege, with constant calls from the media, and even some from the police. Another witness tried to follow the Lincoln as it fled but could not catch the killer(s). The next morning he was charged in Aronow's death. See more ideas about vintage fashion, 1950s fashion, vintage outfits. One of their horses--named Don Aronow--won more than $200,000 in prize money. It was committed at point-blank range in broad daylight in the shadow of the famous high-performance boat companies he had created on North Miami Beach's Northeast 188th Street -- better known as Thunderboat Row. He built speedboats for the Shah of Iran, Charles Keating, Robert Vesco, Malcolm Forbes, and George H. W. Bush. Its incredible, said F. M. (Ted) Theodoli, president of Magnum Marine, which he bought from Aronow in 1972. He graduated a top athlete from James Madison High School in 1944, worked as a life guard at Coney Island, and enrolled at Brooklyn College. Robert Kirkham / Buffalo News. ", "The murder may be related to the Blue Thunder," believes Gary Garbrecht, chief executive officer of Aronow Powerboats, which built the craft for U.S. Customs. The arrest of blond, blue-eyed Robert S. Young, 41, a self-described mercenary serving prison time for cocaine conspiracy, murder and kidnapping, as the man who gunned Aronow down adds further intrigue to the case. Uncategorized ; June 21, 2022 lillian crawford aronow . U.S. Customs threatened to withdraw its Blue Thunder contract if Kramer, then a suspected drug smuggler, purchased the company. Save. Gasoline Alley--that is, NE 188th Street--bears the names of the companies that the self-made multimillionaire from Brooklyn made famous: Magnum, Apache, Donzi, Cigarette and the U.S.A. racing team. The problem with this theory is that Aronow's murder does not resemble a professional hit job. If he didn't like you, he could find a way to abuse you. His established a companys reputation by winning races (the world offshore powerboat championship twice, the U.S. championship three times), then would sell the company at an enormous profit and start a new one next door. The gunman drove his own car. by The Slim Aarons Prints Collection From: 225. You can use this space to go into a little more detail about your company. Some people loved and adored him. Lillian Crawford, the wife of actor Lee Kinsolving, in Palm Beach, May 1970. Ben Aronoff is the actor who plays the role of Donald Aronow in movies. (Photo by Slim Aarons/Getty Images) Buy the print. Interior Department announces new initiative to restore bison population. Some ugly information about Aronow began to arise after he was rubbed out in an ambush attack in Miami's Thunderboat Alley in February 1987, allegedly because he was about to testify before a grand jury investigating the Florida drug trade. Aronow Powerboat's Gary Garbrecht doesn't believe that this is a plausible scenario. In recent months, Aronow had spoken wistfully of returning to powerboat racing. Then I worked the pumps the medics gave me to keep the blood going through him. DETAILS. The man told Aronow he was interested in buying a boat and gave his name as 'Jerry Jacobi.'. Among Aronows customers were Vice President George Bush, the former Haitian dictator Jean Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier, King Hussein of Jordan and King Juan Carlos of Spain. Paper Size. Friday in Westminster Presbyterian Church in Steubenville, Ohlo. It looks to me like a crime of passion, said Crouse, who knew Aronow for more than 20 years. WITH ROBERT YOUNG'S ARREST, Aronow's murder took on an intriguing dark twist, offering a glimpse of a world involving drug and gun running, murder and prostitution. The circumstances of Aronows death mystified his friends and associates. "I'll go all out to win," he once admitted. Describing his best friend's life as a "mixture of triumph and tragedy," Magoon added: "Don died as he would have wished -- with his boots on and with front-page headlines. -- JOANNE A. FISHMAN is a freelance writer who has written a book and numerous articles on the powerboating industry. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The killer's car has never been found, and detectives are still contacting the owners of the 2,500 dark colored Town Cars sold in south Florida in recent years. designer, racer shot to death MIAMI (AP) Boat builder and racer. March 3 (UPI) -- A Haitian migrant was found unresponsive aboard a U.S. Coast Guard cutter and pronounced dead after the Coast Guard stopped a vessel carrying 54 migrants off the coast of Florida. Find 1 person named Lillian Aronow along with free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok search on PeekYou - true people search. He built speedboats for the Shah of Iran, Charles Keating, Robert Vesco, Malcolm Forbes, and George H. W. Bush. Genealogy for Donald Aronow (1927 - 1987) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Looking for Lillian Aronow? Instead, the killer sent a violent and very public message. At the time, Crawford was married to the actor Lee Kinsolving. C-Type; Maximum paper size available. The Formula was followed by Donzi (which Aronow, characteristically, named after himself) and the 36-foot Cigarette that most experts consider his masterpiece, named for a boat that used to hijack rum-runners during Prohibition. "Speed Kills," a crime drama from 2018, showed how epic Don was. Zero of the companies are still active while the remaining three are now listed as inactive. lillian crawford aronow. Back in Miami, Young hooked up with a group of dope peddlers who considered themselves a new version of the 1960s Dixie Mafia crime group. Join Facebook to connect with Lillian Crawford and others you may know. English Deutsch Franais Espaol Portugus Italiano Romn Nederlands Latina Dansk Svenska Norsk Magyar Bahasa Indonesia Trke Suomi Latvian Lithuanian esk . The great speed of Cigarette boats also made them a popular choice among cocaine runners. Prominently displayed in the book is a staged photo of Aronow and a peacock-proud Bush, taking one of the "Blue Thunder" catamarans out for a test run in the Atlantic Ocean. Edition Type. After divorcing his first wife, Shirley, with whom he had three children, Aronow married Lillian Crawford, a Wilhelmina fashion model and socialite. [3] Kramer was already in prison on a life sentence with no possibility of parole following 1988 and 1989 convictions for drug smuggling and gun charges, as well as receiving a 1990 conviction for a failed escape attempt by helicopter from a federal prison near Miami.[4]. Retired President Lyndon Johnson owned several 16 ft. Donzi speedboats on his Texas ranch with which he would . view all Donald Aronow's Timeline. He was a fierce friend, but very outspoken. The great speed of Cigarette boats also made them a popular choice among cocaine smugglers. He was unhappy with the boats construction, and decided to design one for himself. To be fair, Bush was hardly the only powerful person to be taken by Aronow. Frame. Died on 25 May 2000. "He built this entire street. One of the meetings detailed in the Oklahoma indictment placed him in the Miami area just four days before Aronow was murdered. The 36-foot Cigarette, which most experts consider his masterpiece, named for a type of boat that pirates used to hijack rumrunners during Prohibition. The book links him to the late gangster leader Meyer Lansky, and to Ben Kramer, a notorious mob drug kingpin. If convicted of the first-degree murder charge, Young could receive either the death penalty or life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years. He had attracted the attention of passers-by by hanging around in Gasoline Alley for some time before the murder. Aronow's close friend at the time, Vice President George Bush, was a former Cigarette owner and was involved in testing out the 39-foot cats prior to government approval. [3] Ben Kramer, winner of the 1986 American Power Boat Association Offshore Championship, pleaded no contest to manslaughter in 1996. Claudia is a New York artist and ex-wife of real estate developer Martin Kimmel. Lillian Crawford, the wife of actor Lee Kinsolving, in Palm Beach, May 1970. [1] His father owned a gas station and then a taxi company which collapsed during the Great Depression. Next, Young was arrested by Fort Lauderdale police in August 1987 in the kidnapping and attempted murder of a man who had foreclosed on Young's sailboat, the 41-foot Cat Dancer. Others raced in the Kentucky Derby. One of their horses -- named Don Aronow -- won more than $200,000 in prize money. This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? If you got him riled, he would come at you. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Lillian Aronow Overview. CALL GEORGE BUSH." [fn 9] Lillian Aronow did call Bush, who reportedly responded by placing a personal call to the MetroDade Police Department homicide division to express his concern and to request an expeditious handling of the case. Any way you look at it, this fast-paced book is an eyebrow-raiser. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. According to his longtime friend and public relations man, John Crouse, he was planning to take part in the grueling 362-mile Miami-Nassau-Miami race this summer with a new 45-foot deep-V shaped boat. ", "Kramer's Conviction Upheld in Aronow Murder", "Helicopter Crash Foils Drug Smuggler's Prison Escape", "1986-1990 APBA Hall of Champions Inductees", "Master Of Those Mad Racers - Don Aronow hurts a little, but as the world's top ocean powerboat driver and builder he is never bored", "DONALD ARONOW, BOAT DESIGNER AND CHAMPION RACER, SHOT TO DEATH", New York Times, Men's Fashion, Travel: "For The Moment | Show Time for Adam Kimmel", "Interfaith Celebrities: Coming of Age Again, the Girls of NYC and a Couple of Rookies", Historic Offshore Race Boat Association - Donald Aronow, "The Murder of Speedboat Builder Don Aronow", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donald_Aronow&oldid=1137382567, American people of Russian-Jewish descent, James Madison High School (Brooklyn) alumni, Articles needing additional references from January 2014, All articles needing additional references, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 February 2023, at 09:41. lillcrawf.co.uk. He himself was a two-time international champion. Lilla made her feature film debut as Little Red in Disney's film adaptation of Into the Woods opposite Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp. The message was murder. All along, it was suspected that two people were involved in Aronow's murder, and that they were working for someone else. "This is the street that Don created, and he died right here in the middle of it.". Aronow Was A Beloved Father and Husband? Blue Thunder: How the Mafia Owned and Finally Murdered Cigarette Boat King Donald Aronow, 1990, Thomas Burdick and Charlene Mitchell "Liquid Smoke", David Samuels, Men's Vogue, January 2007 Once Aronow was able to formally open his new company, he started Cigarette Racing Team using his own designs in 1970. Kramer was already in prison on a life sentence with no possibility of parole following 1988 and 1989 convictions for drug smuggling and gun charges, as well as receiving a 1990 conviction for a failed escape attempt by helicopter from a federal prison near Miami. And that Aronow was up to his neck in drug smuggling at the same time he was building boats for use in the U.S. government's drug interdiction program. Donald Joel Aronow (March 3, 1927 - February 3, 1987) was an American designer, builder and racer of the famous Magnum Marine, Cary, Cigarette, Donzi, and Formula speedboats. (Ted) Theodoli, president of Magnum Marine, which he bought from Aronow in 1972. Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, United States, Best-dressed Girl Brightest Boy Miss Herelehy Robert Simonetii, Mar 3 1927 - Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States, Feb 3 1987 - Miami, Miami-Dade, Florida, United States, Shirley Aronow (born Goldin), Lillian Aronow (born Crawford). "Every day was an adventure for Don," said Bill Wishnick, the chairman of the Whitco Chemical Co. who was world offshore champion in 1971. Some people loved and adored him. He regarded this marriage as a part of his . Available features. He has been elected to every powerboating Hall of Fame in existence and as stated above, he and Gar Wood were the only two Americans to have ever received the UIM Gold Medal of Honor. Aronow's customers included Vice President Bush, former Haitian dictator Jean Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier, King Hussein of Jordan and King Juan Carlos of Spain. Detectives estimate that of the 235 murders last year in Dade County (it has one of the highest homicide rates in the nation), at least 25% were drug-related. He was powerboating's favorite, best-known, and most flamboyant racer and boat builder, the brilliant creator and designer of . Aronow spent the morning of his death supervising the workmen remodeling his new waterfornt house in Miami Beach, where he and his second wife, Lillian, planned to live with their two young children. The odd case of the Lake View litterbug started three years ago. He was cold and heartless.. Suddenly, its creator found himself in the powerboat business. In dazzling succession, he built thousands of tract homes throughout northern New Jersey. Mega-priced and incredibly overpowered, Aronow's craft set 25 world speed records, won more than 300 major races, and created a dozen world ocean-racing champions. Lillian Crawford. Nearly a decade later, two men pleaded no contest to charges related to Aronow's killing. His boats went on to win a whopping 350 offshore races and Aronow himself was a two-time world champion and three-time US champion of offshore racing. The circumstances of Aronow's death mystified his friends and associates, who acknowledge that he made enemies with his business tactics but doubt that a competitor would have gone so far as to kill him. But building fast boats was what Aronow did. "I do what I enjoy," he told a reporter. Shortly after the legal dust from the divorce had cleared, Aronow married Lillian Crawford, a glamorous Palm Beach socialite and former Wilhemina model. 2 editions. Choose an option Classical 1216" Luxe 1620" Large 2024" Longe 2030" Grande XL 3040" Giant 4060" Supergiant 4872". People . Born on 18 Jul 1923. He regarded this marriage as a part of his success story, boasting: "I'd never be married to a beautiful woman like Lillian if I hauled garbage for a living." WITH GUTS AND BRAVADO, Donald Joel Aronow had always lived on the edge. Some of his boats ended up in the hands of leading drug syndicates. "The boats were having a big success in drug interdiction. The idea of bad guys outracing other bad guys and seizing their fortune appealed to Aronow. Father of Private; Private; Private; Private and Private, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Aronow. Trump legal team requests six-month delay in New York civil lawsuit. In recent months, Aronow had spoken wistfully about returning to powerboat racing. John Crouse, Aronow's public relations man for 20 years, said Aronow would be cremated. Described in the book as an elusive, Gatsbyesque character, he is considered by many as the man who put speedboat racing on the map as an American spectator sport. Lillian Crawford, the wife of actor Lee Kinsolving, in Palm Beach, May 1970. Wilhemina model Lillian Crawford in Palm Beach, 1970. Those of us who knew and loved him know that he could never have tolerated growing old and being sickly.". Drug traffickers used his Cigarette speedboats to move cocaine. As the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Aronow lay dying, one of the rescue squad members who had rushed to the scene asked: Who is this guy?, Thats the king, came the response. He retired to Florida in 1960, and bought himself a speedboat. As to what, he's not sure. Unhappy with the boat's construction, Aronow decided to design one for himself. He would behave as if he didn't given a damn about anybody. By the time he was 30 he was a millionaire -- and bored. In 1995, career criminal Bobby Young admitted to shooting Aronow and pleaded no contest to second degree murder, eventually providing a full confession in 2009 shortly before his death. Police continue to explore a possible link between Aronow's murder and the August arrest of marina owner Ben Kramer on drug smuggling charges. Asked by a Miami Herald reporter for a one-word description of the boats he liked to build, he suggested, "Erotic." But he said he never knowingly sold his boats to drug smugglers. Lillian Crawford. His first boat, made of wood, broke apart. Lillian Aronow has been associated with three companies, according to public records. don aronow wife. 'It's a real stumper,' said Metro-Dade Police Detective Mike Decora. The Lincoln drove over the grass to get away. I was just broken-hearted and figured maybe justice could be done. A 1985 letter from the commissioner of U.S. Customs, now framed and hanging at the Aronow Powerboat offices, thanked him for the "time and effort" he put into creating the boats. Support this work for $1 a month. horace high school west fargo. After two motorcycle crashes, six automobile wrecks and a dozen boating accidents, he was in considerable pain. George Bush's contribution to the book is a wonderful and moving addition. After the memorial service, friends and rivals recalled Aronow's dynamism and intense competitiveness. The price to rent a two bedroom unit in the zip code 33143 is around $1,870. Somehow, Young had managed to "misappropriate" 80 kilos of cocaine from the Colombians, but they were willing to forgive him -- if he killed some of the people on their list. [1] In 1953, he established his own construction company, the Aronow Corporation which quickly became one of the largest construction companies in the state. While there was no direct link to Aronow's Blue Thunder boats, the source said, "These people are extremely vicious, and they don't always need a good reason to kill someone. It cost Aronow a fortune to divorce his wife Shirley in 1979. ", "That's the king," came the response. Lillian Aronow 3820 El Prado Miami, FL 33133: Registered Agent: Lovaas Greg: Filing Date: February 23, 2000: File Number: L00000001992: View People Named Lillian Aronow in New York: Contact Us About The Company Profile For Caribyacht LLC: LILLIAN ARONOW (VICE PRESIDENT) DON ARONOW, INC. He built speedboats for the Shah of Iran, Charles Keating, Robert Vesco, Malcolm Forbes, and George H. W. Bush. Kramer had a business dispute with Aronow after buying the latter's USA Racing Team but was forced to sell it back to Aronow after the Customs Service refused to do business with him. In 1959, at age of 32, the now-millionaire Aronow moved to Miami with his family, where he began racing boats as a hobby. Panzavecchia's body was found floating in a Broward canal. The companies were formed over a thirty-four year period with the most recent being incorporated sixteen years ago in October of 2006. HOW THE MOB KILLED BUSH'S BUDDY DON ARONOW'S FAST-LANE DEATH. We just don't know why.'. By Lillian Crawford 20th July 2021. "Basically Tallulah Bankhead but more autistic." She/her. Preview. Maybe a disgruntled shipper wanted Don out of the way.". He had two elder sisters, Sylvia and Lillian. Father and son decided to branch out into horse racing and breeding. Robert was a cold-blooded killer. Police are still not sure if he was the killer. . "They had done deals together after the USA Racing Team deal. The Aronow stables at Ocala, Fla., house about 40 2-year-olds in various stages of training. MIAMI -- A year after powerboat racing champion Don Aronow was gunned down on Miami's Gasoline Alley, police still have no motive and no suspects in the murder and a $100,000 reward offered by his widow still is unclaimed. Young, 60, died on Tuesday 31 March 2009 at Jackson Memorial Hospital, apparently of natural causes, authorities said. lillian crawford aronow. Aronow's wife, Lillian, was accompanied by friends from the chapel. He also told her that if anything happened to him, she should contact one person immediately: Bush. I was the first to reach him. Aronow's most famous design, the Cigarette, was a favorite with drug smugglers, but he also helped design Blue Thunder, used by customs agents to chase smugglers. People with no visible means of support would show up at major offshore races with three boats and rent suites in the finest hotels. And it was here, at 4:05 p.m. last Tuesday, that he was fatally shot by a gunman who had hailed his white Mercedes car in the middle of the street. Read more. Aronow won the offshore powerboat racing world championship in 1967 and 1969, and was U.S. champion in 1967, 1968 and 1969, Crouse said. Don Aronow's first job was as an usher working nights and weekends at the old Kingsway theater in Brooklyn. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? But they also mentioned his macho personality, rough manners and occasionally explosive temperament. Aronow told her that if he was to die he wanted to be cremated, with no memorial service or eulogy. After he shot Big Red dead, Young took the mans solid gold Rolex, former Miami homicide Detective Nelson Andreu remembered on Tuesday. Saccenti says he heard Robert Young's name mentioned more than six months ago as a suspect. You have to look elsewhere. Our maids cleaners offer a wide range of commercial cleaning services to keep your restaurant clean and looking its best. He could have been murdered quietly. Dr. Stuart Lerman, chief of emergency medicine at the hospital, said Aronow died of blood loss, but the wounds alone would have been fatal. He finally got what he deserved from a higher authority, the death sentence, said retired Miami-Dade police Detective Greg Smith, lead investigator of the Aronow murder. His second wife was former Wilhelmina model, Lillian Crawford, 24 years his junior. He had been elected to every powerboating Hall of Fame in existence and as stated above, he and Gar Wood were the only two Americans to have ever received the UIM Gold Medal of Honor. They have two sons, Gavin and Wylie. "He was a fierce friend . Others did not . I don't want to remember, you can understand.". @slimaaronsofficial # officialslimaarons # slimaarons # slimaaronsphotography # slimaaronsphoto Retired President Lyndon Johnson owned several 16 ft. Donzi speedboats on his Texas ranch with which he . Aronow was murdered in Miami in his car by hitman Robert Bobby Young on 3 February 1987. His trial is scheduled to begin tomorrow in Miami. Judge sentences Alex Murdaugh to life in prison without parole, British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift, SpaceX launches 51 Starlink satellites from California. In an interview with The Miami News two hours before he was killed, Aronow joked that the Customs Service had bought 13 of the $150,000 catamarans "so they could catch smugglers using boats my other companies have made." The possibilities seem as varied as his life, which friends portray as a constant quest for excitement in the form of women, money, success and, above all, speed. designer of the Cigarette speedboat on the street near his office. These events were a prelude to Aronow's murder early the following year. ", And then there were the women. Donald Joel Aronow (March 3, 1927 - February 3, 1987) was an American designer, builder and racer of the famous Magnum Marine, Cary, Cigarette, Donzi, and Formula speedboats. Looking back, Young was lucky to escape the electric chair.. Help Defend Your Rights To Hunt, Fish And Own A Gun. By 1956, at the age of 28, thousands of new tract houses in northern New Jersey had made him a millionaire. Their company was located next to the offices of Don Aronow, the wealthy powerboat racer and founder of Cigarette boats who was gunned down in 1987 in what police said was part of a business dispute. After drug smugglers started making use of his 90 mph "Cigarette" boat in the mid-'70s, the Customs Service was forced to fight back. While Amherst police were on the scene, a number of fights started among groups within the crowd in the mall lot on Alberta and in the Wegmans. ", Added Theodoli, the present owner of Magnum: "He was a hard-nosed guy.