Charlie was born at 34 East Houston Street in New York City on December 23, 1876 but was raised in Aurigeno, Switzerland. He went to Paris, and then to the USA as an unmarried man in November 25, 1905. In 1906 he travelled to Europe, and when he returned to New York on December 1, 1906, he was still listed as an unmarried man. In 1907 he again travelled to Europe, and when he returned to New York on November 2, 1907, he was listed as a married man. He again travelled to Europe, probably in 1912, since he is shown in the records as entering the USA on December 2, 1912 as a married man. Then, in the mid 1920's, he returned to the the USA and settled in Reno, Nevada, where he worked at a golf clup pro shop, helped run a hotel with his cousin, Mark Yori, son of Maria Vanoni Yori, and finally operated a grocery store. Local rumors in Aurigeno labled him as the father of Mario Vanoni, born out of wedlock to Maria Luigia Giovanetti

Charlie was a boxer, a runner, a jockey, and world-class bicycle racer who raced in two Olympics, once for Italy & once for France. Before his bicycle career began in 1898, Charlie participated in foot racing and horse racing, winning more than 200 foot races and 125 horse races. During his bicycle career from 1890 to 1914 he won more than 1,000 races, and rode in 40 6-day bike races. He competed in France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and South America. In 1901 he won the South American championship and in 1905 he captuered the championship of Switzerland. In 1906 in Madison Square Garden he set a world record by pedalling 26 miles, 176 yards in one hour flat. So popular was he that an enterprising manufacturer of smokes had a special brand of cigarettes named Vanoni in his honor. His racing career ended in 1914 when he joined the armed forces.

When Maria married Gastone, he adopted her son, Mario, born out of wedlock. The rumored father of Mario was Carlo Giuseppe (Charlie) Vanoni. She came to the USA in 1921, along with Mario and Gastone.