Nicholas Blanda
Nicholas Blanda a.k.a. Nicky Blanda from Cypress Hills, Brooklyn is a Lucchese crime family mobster who served under capo Paul Vario.
Biography
Nicholas Blanda was the son of Italian immigrants who settled in East New York, Brooklyn is the grandfather to at least one son Daniel. Nicholas was a wealthy land owner and successful hijacker of transport trucks. He was the proprietor and undertaker at a funeral home which he operated in the 1920's to 1940's. Nicholas was known to have one brother named Benjamin who was also an undertaker who worked at the Blanda Funeral Home located at 725 Liberty Avenue which was later moved to Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. Through his funeral home business he was able to control the Local 727 made up of funeral hearse drivers, funeral directors, embalmers and death care workers. Nicholas was one of the many Lucchese crime family mobsters who Henry Hill grew up with in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. It is unknown if his brother Benjamin Blanda followed Nicholas into joining the Lucchese crime family. The two brothers were very successful with their funeral home. Nicholas and his brother were so successful with the funeral home business that his brother was able to afford a brand new 1934 Packard Phaeton Cabriolet. Nicholas was a close friend of Paul Vario, Jimmy Burke, Henry Hill and Tommy DeSimone. He was involved in hijacking and dealing in stolen goods. Nicholas was a habituate of Robert's Lounge, The Bamboo Lounge and the Kew Motor Inn. As of 2007 the whereabouts and happenings of Nicholas are unknown. His son Daniel is still alive As of 2006.
References:
Pileggi, Nicholas Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family Simon & Schuster (January 1986) ISBN 0671447343