Gerry Menditto, "Mr. Cyclone," never rode on the coaster that he operated for nearly 35 years. "I don't like drops," he said. He diagnosed problems by sound, listening to the vibrations made by motors, belts, lift chains, bearings, and wooden supports, and he and his crew repaired or replaced anything that didn't sound right. Gerry became operations manager of the Cyclone roller coaster in 1975 after Astroland Park acquired the lease and he worked there until the park closed in 2008.
https://www.coneyislandhistory.org/blog/news/remembering-gerry-menditto
Gerald Menditto appears in the following:
People's Hall of Fame: Gerald Menditto
Friday, October 30, 2009
Five notable New Yorkers are inductees into the City Lore 2009 People's Hall of Fame. They join us as part of a week-long series.
Today: Inductee Gerald Menditto manager of Coney Island’s Cyclone, talks about his 30 years running NYC’s most famous roller coaster.
Today: Inductee Gerald Menditto manager of Coney Island’s Cyclone, talks about his 30 years running NYC’s most famous roller coaster.