Julius DiStaso worked hard for many years, cutting hair every day in his Brunswick Street Barbershop in Jersey City.
But it was a trip home to his native Italy in 1963 that deeply affected him for the rest of his life. That year, his children were able to help Mr. DiStaso return to his birthplace in Bari, to see his mother and some of the people he left behind.
"He spent two weeks there seeing his mother and his friends. It was a very emotional experience for him," his son, James, said.
Mr. DiStaso, 79, died on Monday, August 15, 1988, in the Pollak Hospital, Jersey City.
Known throughout the Village section of Jersey City as "Joe the Barber," Mr. DiStaso ran an old-fashioned barbershop where gossip and small talk were dispensed along with hair oil and talcum powder.
Mr. DiStaso ran the shop, which was called the Fifth Ward Barber Shop, with his brother, Leo DiStaso, for many years after it was founded by their father. Leo died many years ago.
Mr. DiStaso had left Bari as a young man to come to America. His mother remained.
"It was really good that he was able to go back," James said. Mr. D'Staso's mother died the next year.
Mr. DiStaso retired 14 years ago after running the shop since 1926 and the shop was closed.
Surviving are four sons, Fred, James, Julius Jr., and Patrick; two daughters, Kathleen Stirone and Mary Corcoran; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Obituary: The Jersey Journal, 17 Aug 1988
But it was a trip home to his native Italy in 1963 that deeply affected him for the rest of his life. That year, his children were able to help Mr. DiStaso return to his birthplace in Bari, to see his mother and some of the people he left behind.
"He spent two weeks there seeing his mother and his friends. It was a very emotional experience for him," his son, James, said.
Mr. DiStaso, 79, died on Monday, August 15, 1988, in the Pollak Hospital, Jersey City.
Known throughout the Village section of Jersey City as "Joe the Barber," Mr. DiStaso ran an old-fashioned barbershop where gossip and small talk were dispensed along with hair oil and talcum powder.
Mr. DiStaso ran the shop, which was called the Fifth Ward Barber Shop, with his brother, Leo DiStaso, for many years after it was founded by their father. Leo died many years ago.
Mr. DiStaso had left Bari as a young man to come to America. His mother remained.
"It was really good that he was able to go back," James said. Mr. D'Staso's mother died the next year.
Mr. DiStaso retired 14 years ago after running the shop since 1926 and the shop was closed.
Surviving are four sons, Fred, James, Julius Jr., and Patrick; two daughters, Kathleen Stirone and Mary Corcoran; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Obituary: The Jersey Journal, 17 Aug 1988
Julius DiStaso worked hard for many years, cutting hair every day in his Brunswick Street Barbershop in Jersey City.
But it was a trip home to his native Italy in 1963 that deeply affected him for the rest of his life. That year, his children were able to help Mr. DiStaso return to his birthplace in Bari, to see his mother and some of the people he left behind.
"He spent two weeks there seeing his mother and his friends. It was a very emotional experience for him," his son, James, said.
Mr. DiStaso, 79, died on Monday, August 15, 1988, in the Pollak Hospital, Jersey City.
Known throughout the Village section of Jersey City as "Joe the Barber," Mr. DiStaso ran an old-fashioned barbershop where gossip and small talk were dispensed along with hair oil and talcum powder.
Mr. DiStaso ran the shop, which was called the Fifth Ward Barber Shop, with his brother, Leo DiStaso, for many years after it was founded by their father. Leo died many years ago.
Mr. DiStaso had left Bari as a young man to come to America. His mother remained.
"It was really good that he was able to go back," James said. Mr. D'Staso's mother died the next year.
Mr. DiStaso retired 14 years ago after running the shop since 1926 and the shop was closed.
Surviving are four sons, Fred, James, Julius Jr., and Patrick; two daughters, Kathleen Stirone and Mary Corcoran; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Obituary: The Jersey Journal, 17 Aug 1988
But it was a trip home to his native Italy in 1963 that deeply affected him for the rest of his life. That year, his children were able to help Mr. DiStaso return to his birthplace in Bari, to see his mother and some of the people he left behind.
"He spent two weeks there seeing his mother and his friends. It was a very emotional experience for him," his son, James, said.
Mr. DiStaso, 79, died on Monday, August 15, 1988, in the Pollak Hospital, Jersey City.
Known throughout the Village section of Jersey City as "Joe the Barber," Mr. DiStaso ran an old-fashioned barbershop where gossip and small talk were dispensed along with hair oil and talcum powder.
Mr. DiStaso ran the shop, which was called the Fifth Ward Barber Shop, with his brother, Leo DiStaso, for many years after it was founded by their father. Leo died many years ago.
Mr. DiStaso had left Bari as a young man to come to America. His mother remained.
"It was really good that he was able to go back," James said. Mr. D'Staso's mother died the next year.
Mr. DiStaso retired 14 years ago after running the shop since 1926 and the shop was closed.
Surviving are four sons, Fred, James, Julius Jr., and Patrick; two daughters, Kathleen Stirone and Mary Corcoran; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Obituary: The Jersey Journal, 17 Aug 1988
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