Dauria has cut hair at Fratantonio’s Barber Shop in Shaker Heights for 51 years. Five days a week, 10 hours a day for half a century, Dauria has labored in the second chair from the left of the entrance. He’s watched customers became fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers. Still, Dauria is ready for new customers, greeting them with a smile, a handshake and a quality cut.
I can’t sit still. I go nuts sitting around. My only affliction was my knees, and I’ve had both of those replaced.
I just had a physical a few weeks ago from my internist, who I gave his first hair cut. I told him a long time ago, “I’ll take care of your hair, you take care of my body.”
As long as I’m feeling good, I’m going to be right behind that chair.
I do a lot of first haircuts. In fact, we have a first haircut certificate that we pass out to the little kids. I have four generations that I take care of.
I consider myself like a priest. If a young guy tells me something, I don’t go blabbing it to the barber next to me or bring it up to anyone.
It was meant for me, and that’s where it stays.
My boss was a good teacher. I modeled myself after him, because he was that kind of person.
He would give you the shirt off his back. That’s the kind of guy he was.
His wife was a sweetheart. Unfortunately she passed a few years before him. After she died, he kind of went downhill.
So I would try to take him out to dinner once in a while. He was always good to me, treated me like a son.
Just be nice to people. I see how it’s paid off for me because people have come back to see me.
I give a good haircut, granted. But that’s half of it. You have to sell yourself, plus your haircut.
Just come in. That’s my motto. Just come in and see me.
