FORMER Commonwealth Zoning Board Chairman Diego C. Blanco passed away on Dec. 9. He was 70.
On behalf of the Blanco family, his brother Harry said, “I want to thank you all for your support and comfort through this tough time.”
“It was a very difficult situation for us and we are still struggling in dealing with our loss. Your heartfelt and sincere expressions of sympathy to each of us is genuinely appreciated. For that we are truly grateful of how much you all care for our beloved Diego. We thank you again for your kindness in all you’ve done for our family,” Harry Blanco added.
Diego Blanco was the father of the late Rep. Ivan Blanco who passed away in July 23, 2021.
Rep. Joel Camacho, who served with Blanco on the Zoning Board from 2016 to 2018, said: “He was not just a mentor to me as he chaired the board during my tenure there, he was also my uncle as he was second cousin to my dad Serafin Camacho.”
Camacho added, “Uncle Diego was a firm man who acknowledged those who were honest and hardworking. I learned a lot from him. I was also close to him as his son, the late Rep. Ivan Blanco, was my colleague and one of my best friends. They will both remain close to my heart forever.”
House Minority Leader Angel A. Demapan said Diego Blanco was one of his “new buddies” when he started working with the then-Fitial administration in 2010. Two years later, Demapan and Diego Blanco attended the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida to cast their votes for Mitt Romney.
“He loved to text, send videos and funny photos,” Demapan said, referring to Diego Blanco. “One of his last messages read, ‘I don’t know when I will come back. It depends on severity of my medical issues. But I will be back and we will get together for sure.’ ”
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Former Zoning Board Chairman Diego Blanco, right, with his son, Rep. Ivan Blanco, and granddaughter Paige Rose, during the House inauguration in January 2021.
