Tracy Cavelli was born and raised in the great state of Ohio in an Italian family. Her grandparents arrived from Italy by boat at Ellis Island to become American citizens. Her father, Armando Alfredo Cavelli, was a fabulous storyteller, weaving fantastical tales of far-off lands, animals that came to life and spoke, as well as fairies, witches, and princesses trapped in dungeons and towers. He even told stories of wolverines that lived in the forest, most of which were inspired by his favorite magazine, “Field and Stream,” to which he added his own imaginative flair.

Tracy’s mother was a shining example of integrity and honesty. As the matriarch of the family, she taught Tracy how to cook and was a wonderful Southern cook at that. Throughout her life, Tracy’s mother worked various jobs, including waitressing, serving as a radiology transporter, and being a school crossing guard, always striving to provide for her family in any way she could. Tracy’s parents were older when she was born—her mother was 40 and often referred to Tracy as her “change of life baby… the baby who changed her life.” Her father was 46 at the time of her birth and worked as a steelworker in a factory.