His basement hooch now a legit liqueur, “Lillo” sheds corporate life to pursue a high-proof dream: Michael K. McIntyre’s Tipoff

As director of a church-affiliated real-estate development company, Nolasco Housing Corporation, Charlie Manno was called upon to do many things in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood where he grew up.

He served as a lector at the church across from his childhood apartment on Detroit Ave., Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He lobbied politicians for help redeveloping the neighborhood behind the church, replacing blight with condos and a senior citizen high-rise.

And one day in September of 1994, he was called upon by Father Marino Frascati, the pastor of Mt. Carmel who also was his boss at the real-estate company, to shepherd, to Chicago, two priests visiting from Italy.

His job was to show them a good time as they celebrated their 25th year of ordination… (read more on Cleveland.com)