Mother was Catherine C. (Kitty) Collins, who is buried at Holy Cross, Detroit.
Obituary:
Hat Specialist to the Great, Thomas Flattery Dies at 83
By LEE WINFREY
Free Press Staff Writer
Thomas J. Flattery, who sold hats to auto magnates and U.S. senators, to movie comedians and heavyweight champions, died Saturday night at St. John's Hospital at the age of 83.
Flattery sold Henry Ford a hat to which to visit President Woodrow Wilson. While selling a hat to steel tycoon Charles Schwab, he discovered the secret place where Schwab hid money from robbers.
For more than half a century, Flattery was the man to see in Detroit if you wanted a high-class hat.
He made hats his life's work and made most other hat salesmen look like know-nothings. "I am a specialist," he used to say, "just like a surgeon or an architect."
Flattery was born in Detroit within sight of City Hall. He entered naturally into commerce, his grand-uncles having operated a furniture store on Woodward as far back as the 1840s.
He was only 14 when he went to work at the J. L. Hudson Co. as an errand boy. He was apprenticed in hats and his first customer was J. L. Hudson, himself.
He opened his first hat store at 72 Washington Blvd. in 1916. A year later Henry Ford came in with his son, Edsel.
The elder Ford was going to Washington to talk to Woodrow Wilson about the risk of World War I, in which the U.S. became involved later that year. Without measuring, Flattery fitted him with a silk top hat, size 6 7/8.
Ford wanted to know how Flattery knew his head size on sight. "It's my business to know," he told the auto king, "just like it's yours to make cars."
Later Charles Schwab came in for a new derby. Noticing that his old one didn't fit well, Flattery slipped his fingers inside and found Schwab had padded the brim with paper—two $10 bills.
Flattery convinced him to abandon the hidden money practice, telling him it ruined his appearance.
Others among the famous who came to Flattery were Horace Dodge Sr., heavyweight champion Jim Corbett, U.S. Sens. Truman Newberry and Homer Ferguson, silent movie comedian Ben Turpin, Mayor Frank Couzens, golfer Walter Hagen, lion tamer Clyde Beatty.
Flattery's home was at 22642 Englehardt, St. Clair Shores. He was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Kiwanis Club.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Lucy's Church, 23018 Clairwood, St. Clair Shores. Burial will be in Mt. Elliott Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; two sons, Thomas L., Pacific Palisades, Cal. and John L., Detroit; three daughters, Mrs. Sally O'Malley, Buena Vista, Cal., Mrs. Patricia Hurley and Mrs. Suzanne Sherman, both of Grosse Pointe; two brothers, William R., Detroit, and Collins J., Washington, D.C.; three sisters, Mrs. Clara Gesell, Pompano Beach, Fla., Mrs. Blanche Schiappacasse, South Bend, Ind., Mrs. Corinne Hastings, Detroit; and 28 grandchildren.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
10 Mar 1969, Monday
Page 3
Contributor: Robby Peters (49706234)
Obituary:
Hat Specialist to the Great, Thomas Flattery Dies at 83
By LEE WINFREY
Free Press Staff Writer
Thomas J. Flattery, who sold hats to auto magnates and U.S. senators, to movie comedians and heavyweight champions, died Saturday night at St. John's Hospital at the age of 83.
Flattery sold Henry Ford a hat to which to visit President Woodrow Wilson. While selling a hat to steel tycoon Charles Schwab, he discovered the secret place where Schwab hid money from robbers.
For more than half a century, Flattery was the man to see in Detroit if you wanted a high-class hat.
He made hats his life's work and made most other hat salesmen look like know-nothings. "I am a specialist," he used to say, "just like a surgeon or an architect."
Flattery was born in Detroit within sight of City Hall. He entered naturally into commerce, his grand-uncles having operated a furniture store on Woodward as far back as the 1840s.
He was only 14 when he went to work at the J. L. Hudson Co. as an errand boy. He was apprenticed in hats and his first customer was J. L. Hudson, himself.
He opened his first hat store at 72 Washington Blvd. in 1916. A year later Henry Ford came in with his son, Edsel.
The elder Ford was going to Washington to talk to Woodrow Wilson about the risk of World War I, in which the U.S. became involved later that year. Without measuring, Flattery fitted him with a silk top hat, size 6 7/8.
Ford wanted to know how Flattery knew his head size on sight. "It's my business to know," he told the auto king, "just like it's yours to make cars."
Later Charles Schwab came in for a new derby. Noticing that his old one didn't fit well, Flattery slipped his fingers inside and found Schwab had padded the brim with paper—two $10 bills.
Flattery convinced him to abandon the hidden money practice, telling him it ruined his appearance.
Others among the famous who came to Flattery were Horace Dodge Sr., heavyweight champion Jim Corbett, U.S. Sens. Truman Newberry and Homer Ferguson, silent movie comedian Ben Turpin, Mayor Frank Couzens, golfer Walter Hagen, lion tamer Clyde Beatty.
Flattery's home was at 22642 Englehardt, St. Clair Shores. He was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Kiwanis Club.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Lucy's Church, 23018 Clairwood, St. Clair Shores. Burial will be in Mt. Elliott Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; two sons, Thomas L., Pacific Palisades, Cal. and John L., Detroit; three daughters, Mrs. Sally O'Malley, Buena Vista, Cal., Mrs. Patricia Hurley and Mrs. Suzanne Sherman, both of Grosse Pointe; two brothers, William R., Detroit, and Collins J., Washington, D.C.; three sisters, Mrs. Clara Gesell, Pompano Beach, Fla., Mrs. Blanche Schiappacasse, South Bend, Ind., Mrs. Corinne Hastings, Detroit; and 28 grandchildren.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
10 Mar 1969, Monday
Page 3
Contributor: Robby Peters (49706234)
Mother was Catherine C. (Kitty) Collins, who is buried at Holy Cross, Detroit.
Obituary:
Hat Specialist to the Great, Thomas Flattery Dies at 83
By LEE WINFREY
Free Press Staff Writer
Thomas J. Flattery, who sold hats to auto magnates and U.S. senators, to movie comedians and heavyweight champions, died Saturday night at St. John's Hospital at the age of 83.
Flattery sold Henry Ford a hat to which to visit President Woodrow Wilson. While selling a hat to steel tycoon Charles Schwab, he discovered the secret place where Schwab hid money from robbers.
For more than half a century, Flattery was the man to see in Detroit if you wanted a high-class hat.
He made hats his life's work and made most other hat salesmen look like know-nothings. "I am a specialist," he used to say, "just like a surgeon or an architect."
Flattery was born in Detroit within sight of City Hall. He entered naturally into commerce, his grand-uncles having operated a furniture store on Woodward as far back as the 1840s.
He was only 14 when he went to work at the J. L. Hudson Co. as an errand boy. He was apprenticed in hats and his first customer was J. L. Hudson, himself.
He opened his first hat store at 72 Washington Blvd. in 1916. A year later Henry Ford came in with his son, Edsel.
The elder Ford was going to Washington to talk to Woodrow Wilson about the risk of World War I, in which the U.S. became involved later that year. Without measuring, Flattery fitted him with a silk top hat, size 6 7/8.
Ford wanted to know how Flattery knew his head size on sight. "It's my business to know," he told the auto king, "just like it's yours to make cars."
Later Charles Schwab came in for a new derby. Noticing that his old one didn't fit well, Flattery slipped his fingers inside and found Schwab had padded the brim with paper—two $10 bills.
Flattery convinced him to abandon the hidden money practice, telling him it ruined his appearance.
Others among the famous who came to Flattery were Horace Dodge Sr., heavyweight champion Jim Corbett, U.S. Sens. Truman Newberry and Homer Ferguson, silent movie comedian Ben Turpin, Mayor Frank Couzens, golfer Walter Hagen, lion tamer Clyde Beatty.
Flattery's home was at 22642 Englehardt, St. Clair Shores. He was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Kiwanis Club.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Lucy's Church, 23018 Clairwood, St. Clair Shores. Burial will be in Mt. Elliott Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; two sons, Thomas L., Pacific Palisades, Cal. and John L., Detroit; three daughters, Mrs. Sally O'Malley, Buena Vista, Cal., Mrs. Patricia Hurley and Mrs. Suzanne Sherman, both of Grosse Pointe; two brothers, William R., Detroit, and Collins J., Washington, D.C.; three sisters, Mrs. Clara Gesell, Pompano Beach, Fla., Mrs. Blanche Schiappacasse, South Bend, Ind., Mrs. Corinne Hastings, Detroit; and 28 grandchildren.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
10 Mar 1969, Monday
Page 3
Contributor: Robby Peters (49706234)
Obituary:
Hat Specialist to the Great, Thomas Flattery Dies at 83
By LEE WINFREY
Free Press Staff Writer
Thomas J. Flattery, who sold hats to auto magnates and U.S. senators, to movie comedians and heavyweight champions, died Saturday night at St. John's Hospital at the age of 83.
Flattery sold Henry Ford a hat to which to visit President Woodrow Wilson. While selling a hat to steel tycoon Charles Schwab, he discovered the secret place where Schwab hid money from robbers.
For more than half a century, Flattery was the man to see in Detroit if you wanted a high-class hat.
He made hats his life's work and made most other hat salesmen look like know-nothings. "I am a specialist," he used to say, "just like a surgeon or an architect."
Flattery was born in Detroit within sight of City Hall. He entered naturally into commerce, his grand-uncles having operated a furniture store on Woodward as far back as the 1840s.
He was only 14 when he went to work at the J. L. Hudson Co. as an errand boy. He was apprenticed in hats and his first customer was J. L. Hudson, himself.
He opened his first hat store at 72 Washington Blvd. in 1916. A year later Henry Ford came in with his son, Edsel.
The elder Ford was going to Washington to talk to Woodrow Wilson about the risk of World War I, in which the U.S. became involved later that year. Without measuring, Flattery fitted him with a silk top hat, size 6 7/8.
Ford wanted to know how Flattery knew his head size on sight. "It's my business to know," he told the auto king, "just like it's yours to make cars."
Later Charles Schwab came in for a new derby. Noticing that his old one didn't fit well, Flattery slipped his fingers inside and found Schwab had padded the brim with paper—two $10 bills.
Flattery convinced him to abandon the hidden money practice, telling him it ruined his appearance.
Others among the famous who came to Flattery were Horace Dodge Sr., heavyweight champion Jim Corbett, U.S. Sens. Truman Newberry and Homer Ferguson, silent movie comedian Ben Turpin, Mayor Frank Couzens, golfer Walter Hagen, lion tamer Clyde Beatty.
Flattery's home was at 22642 Englehardt, St. Clair Shores. He was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Kiwanis Club.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Lucy's Church, 23018 Clairwood, St. Clair Shores. Burial will be in Mt. Elliott Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; two sons, Thomas L., Pacific Palisades, Cal. and John L., Detroit; three daughters, Mrs. Sally O'Malley, Buena Vista, Cal., Mrs. Patricia Hurley and Mrs. Suzanne Sherman, both of Grosse Pointe; two brothers, William R., Detroit, and Collins J., Washington, D.C.; three sisters, Mrs. Clara Gesell, Pompano Beach, Fla., Mrs. Blanche Schiappacasse, South Bend, Ind., Mrs. Corinne Hastings, Detroit; and 28 grandchildren.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
10 Mar 1969, Monday
Page 3
Contributor: Robby Peters (49706234)
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