Florence Grady and VAS CommunityAugie Palmisano reached the elevator doors at the same time.

Both were tenants at Juneau Village Garden Apartments in downtown Milwaukee. And shortly before 9 a.m. that Friday — June 30, 1978 — both were heading to the basement of the apartment complex.

Grady was carrying a basket of clothes to the laundry. Augie was going to the underground parking garage. They chatted about the weather and Summerfest.

When they reached the basement, she went to the laundry room. He walked to his car, a 1977 Mercury Marquis.

Less than a minute later, there was a massive explosion. Grady thought the boiler had exploded. But when she looked into the garage, she saw Augie’s car in flames.