Worst Tragedy of All Besets Family of Onetime Gambino Boss

Longtime Gambino capo Joseph (Joe the Blond) Giordano

Longtime Gambino capo Joe the Blond, about whom we look at now--note that we are not referring to Carlo Gambino's historic underboss, Joseph (Joe the Blond) Biondo, Gambino underboss in the 1960s. Fortunately, he died of natural causes -- just as Gambino was preparing to order his death.

This Joe The Blond, aka Joseph Giordano, was a member of former Gambino boss John Gotti’s inner circle. He is a nephew to former Gotti underboss Joseph “Joe Piney” Armone, and his brother, John “Handsome Jack” Giordano, was one of Gotti Sr.’s right-hand men. Like John Junior, Gotti had more than one right-hand man. (Why the young former Don claimed to be befuddled by his supposed surplus of confidants is in itself befuddling to us: we'd want as many close cohorts as possible if we ran a crime family in New York.)



Joseph Giordano served on the Gambinos’ ruling commission, supposedly, as reported; the ruling panel -- three seasoned capos -- was initiated after John Gotti was locked away in 1992.

Giordano reportedly was still a tough guy with his fists even well into his 60s when he allegedly punched, kicked and slapped around someone fir a nice pile of cash.

In 2009 when his nephew asked for backup in a dispute with a contractor who had done major construction work on his Long Island home, Giordano leaped into the fray, some $50,000 in cold cash was the stakes.

Giordano, then 63, was hit with grand larceny-extortion charges after the Manhattan District Attorney indicted him for assaulting and shakedowns that allegedly took place between March and June of 2009.

Giordano, of Deer Park, LI, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro said in proceedings: “This is the most violent way for someone to steal. The force of the threat must have been really strong for the victim to give him the money.”

Defense lawyer James Pascarella went to that mat for Giordano, saying he was innocent -- that he was not involved in organized crime and that his health was precarious. Giordano suffers from the autoimmune disease lupus and a heart condition and had two recent knee operations, the lawyer said.

He also has a criminal record going back decades.

Giordano died in prison in September 2013 while serving a one-to-three year stretch. "His career was relatively long and unencumbered by the kinds of federal racketeering charges that put away many of his fellow wiseguys away for years," one report noted.

Giordano died of cancer "only six months after a hard-nosed Manhattan judge refused to adjourn his sentencing so the gangster could get a suspicious spot on his lung tested," the Daily News reported.

That's where the story ended...


But then a source emailed us earlier this year to add a very grim postscript, so grim we considered not reporting it.

Shamefully we admit we should've jumped on this sooner....

"I don't know a whole lot about Joe the Blond... but I am friends with his son Anthony. Tony is a sweet guy not involved in the life at all. He lives in ---- and is a father of three beautiful girls.

"I feel for the guy. He's lost his mother, father and stepmother in the last few years, but we are also coming up on the anniversary of his daughter Sunny's death."

His daughter -- Joe the Blond's granddaughter -- was murdered in an incomprehensively brutal way about a year ago. Her killer was her abusive scumbag boyfriend.

Added the source: "I know Tony would appreciate the support for his daughter. Tony has started a foundation called Sunny Days, which he started to bring awareness to domestic violence.

"Sunny was a beautiful girl with blond hair and big blue eyes. The Giordano genes are strong."

Tony if you'd like to speak with us, confidentially or otherwise, we'd be very willing to help however we can....cosanostranews@gmail dot com ....

See video below....

In March of this year, it was reported:

“My daughter was 18," said Anthony Giordano. "She just turned 18.”

“There’s always going to be that feeling of, 'What could I have done?' The guilt.”

Police said Sunny was stabbed to death last year inside a Nashville hotel room. Her family said she went up there to celebrate the Fourth of July with friends.

“And that was the last time I heard from her," said Anthony.

Police said Ben Bolton, 23, stabbed her in the throat, wrapped her in a sheet and put her in the bathtub. He's charged with criminal homicide and evidence tampering.

Her family said Bolton was her boyfriend for about a month.

“Neither of us met him," said Anthony.

He said finding out his daughter was trapped in an abusive relationship was shocking and heartbreaking news to him.

“I just miss her," he said. "I loved her so much and I love her so much. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing.”

Sunny Giordano

He started the Sunny Days Foundation – an organization to help spread awareness on domestic violence and offer outlets to victims. It’s in the works of becoming a nonprofit.

They’re currently selling T-shirts and bracelets with proceeds going to the YWCA women’s shelter.

Anthony also wants to hold educational events in the future.

“I’m just trying to make a tragic situation positive for somebody else,” he said.

He said he never wants anyone to have to go through what he is, as he's missing his go-to girl. Anthony said Sunny was a generous soul who loved her sneakers and food.

He wants domestic violence victims to understand their value.

"Know your worth," he said. "Know that you have to focus on yourself before a boy. Graduate high school. Become something. Go to college. Get your degree. Start your own business. Don’t worry about being validated by another person."

He also wants people to understand how common domestic violence is and wants more people to stand against it.

• For more information on the Sunny Days Foundation, go here for their Facebook page and here for their website.  

• If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, go here for a list of resources available to you.

We'd be remiss if we didn't note that had this happened in a different time and place, Ben Bolton would've disappeared. 

And probably perception alone would've ensured Sunny's very survival....