Bystander to one of the 20th century’s great Mysteries
in his younger years, Sheldon yellen helped run the Southfield athletic club, which played a pivotal part in one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century. on July 30, 1975, one of the regulars at the club—anthony Giacalone, known as “mr. G” to yellen—was scheduled to meet with ex-teamsters boss Jimmy hoffa at the machus red fox restaurant at 2 p.m., according to federal officials. at 2:15 p.m., hoffa called his wife, apparently concerned that Giacalone hadn’t showed.
it was the last time she ever heard from him. authorities declared hoffa dead in 1982, even though they never found his body. Giacalone, who was indicted on rico charges in 1996 but died before the case went to trial, was a prime suspect in hoffa’s disappearance but was never charged. he had an airtight alibi, having spent July 30 at his favorite hangout, the Southfield athletic club. When asked about hoffa, Giacalone allegedly said, “maybe he took a little trip.”
investigators spent years chasing down people who might know something, including yellen’s mentor, leonard Schultz, who authorities say was a mafia associate, friend of Giacalone, head of the Southfield athletic club and fbi informant. Schultz, who was eventually convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 1987, took any secrets he may have had to the grave in 2013. “i always thought lenny knew more about the hoffa disappearance than he ever told us about,” says retired fbi agent John insogna.
unlike most people, yellen doesn’t remember Giacalone for the hoffa disappearance. “When he went to his locker, i was there to open his locker for him,” yellen recalls, adding that he spoke to him only when addressed. “i remember sitting with him in the lounge one time, and he said to me, ‘i understand you’re a good boy.’ and he put his arm around me, and said, ‘Well, i’m glad you are.’ ” asked about hoffa’s disappearance, yellen says: “i heard about it like everybody else. i knew nothing.”