<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0204</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-09-23</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001063197</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TORVEC INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TOVC.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903201</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLISANO B THOMAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3175 GREEN DOLPHIN LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series C Voting Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-09-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15212500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-09-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-09-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1521250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">None</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1 share of Common Stock for 1 share of Series C Voting Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to adjustments in Torvec, Inc.'s Certificate of Incorporation (as Amended).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Greater of $.01 or 80% of volume weighted average price per share of Common Stock during 10 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of exercise, subject to adjustments in the Warrant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>B. Thomas Golisano</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-09-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
