Wasn't sure were to put this but I think the Barbershop is the appropriate place.
So my long time Barber passed away yesterday. I know that none of you knew him but he was a very special guy to many people. Mike was 92 or 93 and still had his shop open until just a couple years ago. Even after his shop closed he continued to cut hair 1 or 2 days a week at a local private club that he had worked at for years. Mike started working in a barber shop in 1941 when he was 12. He worked as a shoe shine boy first then did his apprenticeship before going for his test and getting his license. In his early days he apprenticed under my wife's Grandfather. As you can imagine, having spent 80 years in a barber shop, Mike had a lot of stories and was always quick with a joke or two. My favorite times were when it was just he and I in the shop and I was able to pick his brain about straight razors or town history or family stories. At the end his eyes were so bad that he could no longer drive, but he could still somehow give a dam fine haircut, lol.
Not only was Mike my barber, but I knew him outside the shop too. We were at many family dinners together as his sister is my wife's Aunt. He also lived just up the street from me, about 1/4 mile away so we saw each other often. He will be missed but not forgotten.
Here is Mike cutting his brother in laws (my wife's uncle) hair.
So my long time Barber passed away yesterday. I know that none of you knew him but he was a very special guy to many people. Mike was 92 or 93 and still had his shop open until just a couple years ago. Even after his shop closed he continued to cut hair 1 or 2 days a week at a local private club that he had worked at for years. Mike started working in a barber shop in 1941 when he was 12. He worked as a shoe shine boy first then did his apprenticeship before going for his test and getting his license. In his early days he apprenticed under my wife's Grandfather. As you can imagine, having spent 80 years in a barber shop, Mike had a lot of stories and was always quick with a joke or two. My favorite times were when it was just he and I in the shop and I was able to pick his brain about straight razors or town history or family stories. At the end his eyes were so bad that he could no longer drive, but he could still somehow give a dam fine haircut, lol.
Not only was Mike my barber, but I knew him outside the shop too. We were at many family dinners together as his sister is my wife's Aunt. He also lived just up the street from me, about 1/4 mile away so we saw each other often. He will be missed but not forgotten.
Here is Mike cutting his brother in laws (my wife's uncle) hair.
