'Larry the Barber' leaves legacy in Elmhurst community

ELMHURST – The morning of June 12 proved to be one of Larry D'Amato's busiest days at his barbershop along South York Street. Loyal customers filed in for their last haircut, as the 71-year-old was set to retire the following day.

A subtle feeling of loneliness settled in the shop, but D’Amato’s smile reassured his customers – his longtime friends – that everything was going to be fine.

Seventeen-year-old Ean Anderson, an Elmhurst resident, stopped by mid-morning to get his hair trimmed before he was off on his trip to complete community service abroad. Anderson had gone to D’Amato for four years to get his hair cut – short on the sides, long enough to comb on the top – a D’Amato specialty.

He proceeded to sit in the barber’s chair, and D’Amato wrapped a blue cape around him. Anderson pointed out a small ashtray on the arm of the chair. D’Amato shared an anecdote about the way things used to be “back in the day.” He told Anderson barbers used to smoke while cutting their customers’ hair, and customers, too, joined in.

“Was that before people found out smoking was bad?” Anderson asked. D’Amato said a while back one of his customers accidentally burned him with a cigarette while he tried to trim the front of his hair.

D’Amato has been cutting men’s hair since 1962, and he and his shop have been an integral part of the Elmhurst community since 1980. He said he built a comfortable life for himself and his family, but more important, working at the shop taught him a couple of things about friendship.

“That’s the tough part about all of this – saying goodbye to all the friends I’ve made over the years,” he said, explaining that for the last 35 years he has only cut men’s hair by appointment so he could have that “one-on-one” time with clients.

That’s what had customers like Kim Ford returning to Larry’s Barber Shop time and time again. Ford said for the last 30 years he has gone to D’Amato to get his hair cut and styled but stayed just a little longer for the conversation and the cup of coffee. Over time, D’Amato became more than just a barber – he became a part of his family, he said.

D’Amato said he knew “a little about a lot of things” and “had a guy for everything.” He knew which doctors, dentists or plumbers he could recommend to his customers for the type of help or work they needed, he said.

Bob Pusateri and Joe Scola, D’Amato’s closest friends, said they’ll miss D’Amato – talking to him, calling him and stopping by the shop.

“I’m going to miss his friendship more than anything – and his humor,” Pusateri said.

D’Amato said the story of how the three became close is quite simple: They all met in 1962 and just became friends. The fact they were all barbers just happened to be something of a coincidence and a convenience.

“That’s what’s going to be hard too – finding a barber and paying for the haircut. I haven’t paid for a haircut since 1962,” D’Amato said, adding they all have relied on one another to cut their hair.

He said when it came to having his hair cut and cutting others, he stuck with that classic haircut – short and clean.

“It’s an art,” D’Amato said, adding it’s all about understanding the clients’ style, their hair and the shape of their head.

D’Amato now has turned the shop over to Scola, and Pusateri is set to continue working there part time. Scola said accepting D’Amato’s offer was easy because he was “tired of being retired,” and he is excited to meet new people, have a place to go during the day and get to know D’Amato’s customers.

Scola added he plans on changing the name from “Larry’s Barber Shop” to “The Barber Shop” and “sprucing up” the place by adding a fresh coat of paint on the walls and fixing the flooring.

D’Amato said he is nervous about retiring because he doesn’t really know what to expect. D’Amato, who has lived in and near Chicago for most of his life, explained he and his wife will move to a senior community in Tennessee for their retirement.

“I don’t have much hobbies. I never fished because I never caught anything, but I guess I’ll give it a try,” he said. “I could give a haircut now and then in the garage.”