Mario Gomes lives in Montreal and works for a company that manufactures and distributes art frames. Diane Tremblay resides in South Florida and recently graduated from a community college with a degree in multimedia technology.

Gomes and Tremblay have never met, but they have one thing in common. Their shared interest in the life and times of Chicago gangland leader Al Capone led to the creation of alcaponemuseum.com last year.

The Web site features photos from Gomes' collection chronicling the life of the mobster known as "Scarface." Capone, who died in 1947 from complications from venereal disease, rose to power in Chicago during the 1920s and remained there by ordering the elimination of rivals in grand gangland fashion.

One of those hits, the execution of seven men in a garage on Feb. 14, 1929, is best known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. At Alcaponemuseum.com, you'll find photos of the crime scene and newspaper accounts of the slayings.

Scarface is immortalized at alcaponemuseum.com.

"My interest in Al Capone began back in 1987 after my sister had urged me to go see the then just released film 'The Untouchables' with Kevin Costner," Gomes said by e-mail. "I was totally taken aback, especially by Robert DeNiro's powerful portrayal of Big Al. After the movie I was so charged by his performance ... that I needed to know more about the real Al Capone and his era."

Gomes' new passion for all things Capone brought him to numerous Web sites that told only part of the story. So he created his own, a predecessor to alcaponemuseum.com. He says he wanted people to know that Capone, whose final downfall was a tax evasion conviction, had many sides.

"Yes, Al Capone was synonymous with gangsterism, crime and murder, but what some people don't often realize is that Al did have somewhat of a heart under all that flashy suits," Gomes said. "He was the one who got the milk producers of Chicago to mark dates on the milk so that children wouldn't receive spoiled milk. He donated money to schools, churches and dished out $3,000 a week in soup kitchens for the depression hungry."

Tremblay came upon Gomes' original Web site while studying multimedia technology at Broward County Community College in Florida. She contacted Gomes for permission to use his site as the basis for alcaponemuseum.com. She took all the photos and added more advanced graphics, interactive features and a timeline.

"It was a big project," said Tremblay, who recently graduated and is looking for work. "I thought this was a perfect opportunity to show what I can do."

Tremblay, like Gomes, finds Capone to be a unique historical figure who was both hated and revered at the same time.

"He rose to power in such a short amount of time. He was like a modern-day Robin Hood. He had a corrupt side, but he also did so much good and people didn't always see that side," Tremblay said.

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