Nick Mileti was born April 22, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Bowling Green State University (BA), The Ohio State University College of Law (J D), was honorably discharged from the Army, practiced law in Cleveland and was a prosecutor in Lakewood, Ohio.

In his second career, Mr. Mileti was a consultant to non-profit groups that wanted to build housing and activity centers for older people, representing such prestigious organizations as the Episcopal Diocese of the State of Massachusetts, the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Ohio Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club.

Moving into sports and entertainment in 1968, Mr. Mileti bought the Cleveland Arena and Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 1970, he was granted an expansion franchise by the National Basketball Association (NBA), which he named the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also founded the Cleveland Crusaders hockey team of the now defunct World Hockey Association (WHA). To save Major League Baseball (MLB) for his hometown, he bought the Cleveland Indians from Vernon Stouffer.

Mr. Mileti developed the 22, 000 seat Richfield Coliseum, which Frank Sinatra opened for him 1974. One of the many interesting events he promoted in his building was the Ali-Wepner fight, on which Sylvester Stallone based his wildly successful 'Rocky' series. He also owned and operated radio stations WWWE (AM) and WWWM (FM), which he purchased from the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).

In 1979, powered by artificial hips, Mr. Mileti moved to Beverly Hills to escape Cleveland's winters, where he produced and financed plays and movies. Seeking a different kind of culture, he retired and moved to Rome, Italy in 1989 where he studied the language and all things Italian.

Over the years, Nick Mileti has received innumerable awards and recognition, including being names a Lifetime Honorary Jewish Big Brother, Honorary Boston Fire Commissioner, and Honorary Boston Police Chief. Bowling Green University has granted him its Community Service Award, its Distinguished Alumnus Award, and an Honorary Doctorate. Governor Celeste appointed him to Bowling Green's Board of Trustees, and the University named its Alumni Building THE MILETI ALUMNI CENTER in his honor.

Cleveland Magazine named Mr. Mileti one of Cleveland's thirty most influential people of the last thirty years. He has served on many boards, including the National USO Board -- appointed from the membership of the Young President's Organization (YPO).

Closet Italians: A Dazzling Collection of Illustrious Italians with Non-Italian Names is Nick Mileti's first book. His second book, BEYOND MICHELANGELO: The Deadly Rivalry between Borromini and Bernini, is due to be published in 2005.