‘Goodfellas’ Mobster Drops Dead in Florida Bar
Eugene Gesuale, 73, better known as “Nick the Blade” was having his usual glass of Pinot Grigio at Past Times Restaurant and Bar in Ormond Beach, Florida when he literally fell off his stool and died.
Gesuale’s cause of death appears to have been a heart attack.
From the Palm Beach Post:
The News-Journal reports Gesuale was known as the “Pittsburgh connection” and was referred to by that nickname in the Martin Scorsese-directed film. He was linked to mobsters Henry Hill, James "Jimmy the Gent" Burke and Thomas "Two-Gun Tommy" DeSimone, portrayed by Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, respectively, in the movie. He was released from federal prison in October 2014 after serving 24 years for racketeering and drug trafficking, the News-Journal added.
The mobster had previously served 28 years for drug trafficking and racketeering.
Nick the Blade never became a made man in the Pittsburgh mafia as not long after Genovese took over as boss the feds began dismantling the families heavy hitters, About The Mafia notes.
In 1985 federal prosecutor Jeffrey Manning described Eugene Gesuale as "a hustler, a gambler, a spendthrift, and a man with a violent temper”.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
