Tony the barber, RIP.

I went by Bill's place after work. He came down the stairs carrying a bottle of Irish Whiskey and two shot glasses. Without a word he opened the bottle and filled both. I expected he was planning to share it with Adam, who was just getting downstairs himself. But Bill said 'pick one up'. I did so.

"Our barber is dead".

I was stunned, and drank the whiskey right down.

Tony the Fairfax Barber had been my barber in Philly for years. With the exception of the regrettable 'long hair' period and my time in California he had cut my hair quite well. I had gone to him ever since I moved out to West Philly, and when I moved to Fairmount I still would driver out there to get my hair cut. I stopped going after being encouraged to grow my hair long. Then I moved out to Santa Cruz, while I was out there I ended to long hair nonsense and got a haircut. When I returned to Philly, I expected that Tony would have retired. But I found that Bill, who had ended his long hair era just before I left for CA, was going to Tony for a haircut on a regular basis. Lo and behold Tony was still at work. I soon made an appointment and was back in the chair.

Sadly, the man was showing his age. When I first started he could but my ultra-fine hair to an excellent trim in about 10 minutes. He said my hair was a joy to cut since it was so easy. But after I returned, he had obviously slowed down. It took him the full half hour to give me a proper cut. His cutting was not impaired, but he moved slower now and that took more time.

A running joke in 'Men's Guide' books is that Men should not go to hairstylists, but go to some barber who 'has been cutting hair since our boys got back from Europe'. Tony was one better, he had been cutting hair while he was serving in Europe. His shop was a classic barber shop. He had made no compromises over the years to political correctness. His magazines included Playboys, which would almost be blasphemy to some sensitive souls. There were other magazines, of course, including the requisite National Geographic.

Bill had gone to get a haircut, and had found the shop locked and a memorial vase left out for the family. He came home and checked the online obituaries and found Tony's name.


Now I will need to find a new barber. I had gone to the one on 20th street pretty soon after I moved to Fairmount, but had found them not as good as Tony. I may have to try them again to see if 12+ years has changed their skill or their roster.

RIP Tony.