Nicholas Piccolo
Encyclopedia
Nicholas "Nicky Buck" Piccolo (October 10, 1904 - February 14, 1989) was a Philadelphia mobster and high ranking member of the Scarfo crime family during the 1970s and 1980s.
Known as one of the last "gentleman gangsters", Piccolo and his two younger brothers Mike and Joe all became made men
in the Philadelphia family. The brothers owned the mob hangout "Piccolo's 500 Restaurant" in South Philadelphia
. Piccolo was a caporegime
in the Philadelphia family under boss Angelo Bruno
. After Bruno's murder, he became consiglieri under boss Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo
. A nephew of Piccolo, Scarfo was introduced into the family by his uncle. Scarfo and underboss Phil "Crazy Phil" Leonetti
, Piccolo's great nephew, ruled the Philadelphia family and its Atlantic City, New Jersey
branch with brutality and violence from 1982 to 1988. During the early 1980s, while Scarfo was briefly in prison, Piccolo was heavily involved in the runnings of the crime family
Like many mobsters, Piccolo was a married man who also kept a mistress 20 years younger than he was. Piccolo met his mistress Helen (also known as Babs) during the 1940s. From 1949 to 1988, Piccolo took Babs to Florida
every February. On weekends, Piccolo and Babs went to his vacation home in Seaside Heights, New Jersey
on the Jersey Shore
. After the death of his wife, the 82 year-old Piccolo married Babs on March 1, 1986, causing a mild family scandal. The newlyweds honeymooned at the Scarfo compound in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
, spending a good amount of time on Scarfo's boat, The Usual Suspects.
In February, 1989, Nicholas Piccolo died at his Seaside Heights home from emphysema
, caused by many years of heavy smoking. His funeral in Seaside Park, New Jersey
drew many mafioso and was closely monitored by Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) agents. In the wake of Scarfo's 1988 life sentence and Piccolo's death, his other nephew, Anthony "Tony Buck" Piccolo became family boss until his 1995 incarceration for racketeering. After Piccolo's death in 1989, Babs retired to Coconut Creek, Florida
. In October 2005, she returned to Seaside Heights after her Florida home was destroyed during Hurricane Wilma
Descendants of the Piccolo family reside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Sewell, New Jersey.
Known as one of the last "gentleman gangsters", Piccolo and his two younger brothers Mike and Joe all became made men
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
in the Philadelphia family. The brothers owned the mob hangout "Piccolo's 500 Restaurant" in South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
. Piccolo was a caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
in the Philadelphia family under boss Angelo Bruno
Angelo Bruno
Angelo "The Gentle Don" Bruno was a Sicilian-American mobster who ran the Philadelphia crime family for two decades. Bruno gained his nickname and reputation due to his preference for conciliation over violence.-Early years:Born in Villalba, Sicily, Bruno emigrated to the United States in his...
. After Bruno's murder, he became consiglieri under boss Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo
Nicodemo Scarfo
Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Domenico Scarfo is a member of the American Mafia who eventually became the Boss of the Philadelphia crime family after the death of Angelo Bruno and Phil Testa...
. A nephew of Piccolo, Scarfo was introduced into the family by his uncle. Scarfo and underboss Phil "Crazy Phil" Leonetti
Phil Leonetti
Philip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti is a Philadelphia gangster who became the underboss of the Scarfo crime family under his uncle, Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo before becoming a government informant. At the time, he was the highest-ranking member of the American Mafia to break his blood oath and turn...
, Piccolo's great nephew, ruled the Philadelphia family and its Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
branch with brutality and violence from 1982 to 1988. During the early 1980s, while Scarfo was briefly in prison, Piccolo was heavily involved in the runnings of the crime family
Like many mobsters, Piccolo was a married man who also kept a mistress 20 years younger than he was. Piccolo met his mistress Helen (also known as Babs) during the 1940s. From 1949 to 1988, Piccolo took Babs to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
every February. On weekends, Piccolo and Babs went to his vacation home in Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Seaside Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,887. Seaside Heights is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
on the Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
. After the death of his wife, the 82 year-old Piccolo married Babs on March 1, 1986, causing a mild family scandal. The newlyweds honeymooned at the Scarfo compound in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, spending a good amount of time on Scarfo's boat, The Usual Suspects.
In February, 1989, Nicholas Piccolo died at his Seaside Heights home from emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
, caused by many years of heavy smoking. His funeral in Seaside Park, New Jersey
Seaside Park, New Jersey
Seaside Park is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,579. Seaside Park is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.The first inhabitants...
drew many mafioso and was closely monitored by Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) agents. In the wake of Scarfo's 1988 life sentence and Piccolo's death, his other nephew, Anthony "Tony Buck" Piccolo became family boss until his 1995 incarceration for racketeering. After Piccolo's death in 1989, Babs retired to Coconut Creek, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. In October 2005, she returned to Seaside Heights after her Florida home was destroyed during Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm , thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and fourth Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 season...
Descendants of the Piccolo family reside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Sewell, New Jersey.