among the numerous operations he took part in, many of which together with commissioner giuseppe montana, there is the famous pizza connection operation in collaboration with u.s. police forces. cassarà was a close associate of giovanni falcone and the so-called antimafia pool of the republic prosecutor's office of palermo, and his investigations contributed to the groundwork of the first maxi trial. married and father of three children, he was killed by the mafia in 1985, at the age of 38.