70
INPERSON
For the past 70 years it ’ s been rare to find John DiBernardo without a pair of scissors and a comb . Over the years , the local barber not only witnessed and adapted to seven decades worth of changing hairstyles , but has also watched Pittsburgh blossom into the beautiful metropolis it is today .
DiBernardo grew up in Rankin and attended Rankin High School . His father , who was an excellent student and at the top of his class in Italy , noticed his son wasn ’ t excelling in school and worried he wasn ’ t going to graduate . So his father contacted a friend who was a local barber and had trained young men in the trade .
Before he knew it , at age 13 , DiBernardo was learning the ways of a barber , though he often posed as the shop ’ s cleaning boy since he was too young to begin learning the trade and barber permits were not available until age 14 .
“ One day I was sitting around the shop , and the owner said , ‘ If you want to learn the trade of a barber , come here , stand by me , but stay out of my way and just watch my hands . Watch everything my hands do ,’” recalls DiBernardo . “ Once in a while I would get tired of watching him , so I would look out the window . Next thing I knew , he ’ d kick me in the leg to get my attention and force me to focus . He was strict , but he was good !”
The owner of the barbershop in Rankin was master barber Vincent ( Jim ) Compagnone . “ He was a very good barber ,” beams DiBernardo . Compagnone had learned the art of barbering when he was a child in Italy .
At age 14 , DiBernardo was issued his pink barber ’ s permit and officially became Compagnone ’ s apprentice . He learned all that barbering had to offer including facial shaves , facial massages and shampooing in addition to cutting hair . DiBernardo has many fond memories from those early years , including watching Compagnone shave himself in the morning with a straight razor . “ One day he sat back in the barber ’ s chair and said ‘ Johnny , pick up the white razor and shave me ,’” says DiBernardo . “ I said , ‘ You want me to shave you ?’ and he said ‘ Yeah , you ’ ve looked long enough , so come over here and get to it !’” DiBernardo nervously but successfully shaved the left side of Compagnone ’ s face , but as soon as he was done and about to begin on the right side , Compagnone sat up , saying “ OK , this side is very good ”
YEARS OF
STYLE
Hometowner John DiBernardo , owner of Dee ’ s Barber Shop , celebrates seven decades behind the chair .
— BY NICOLE TAFE —
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