2019

Joseph Ammaturo

Pennsylvania

Joseph Ammaturo was born in Gioia, Italy on October 5, 1942. He came to the United States in 1955 when he was 12 years old. His parents, two brothers, a sister and Joe moved to Philadelphia, PA. Joe began school not speaking English which was a difficult start for him. He graduated high school and worked at the local A&P supermarket at night and attended Tri-City Barber School during the day. Joseph Ammaturo was born in Gioia, Italy on October 5, 1942. He came to the United States in 1955 when he was 12 years old. His parents, two brothers, a sister and Joe moved to Philadelphia, PA. Joe began school not speaking English which was a difficult start for him. He graduated high school and worked at the local A&P supermarket at night and attended Tri-City Barber School during the day. 

In 1964 he was drafted into the army when the Vietnam War began and Vietnam was where he was sent to serve his country. When his army time was up, he went to work in a hair styling shop five days a week and continued working at the A&P one day a week. 
In 1968, his brother Paul, who had been working as a barber stylist for about eight years, was ready to open his own shop and asked Joe to join him in a partnership. The Paul Joseph's Hair Styling shop in Philadelphia was opened in 1968. Unfortunately, his brother passed away after three years in the shop with Joe. 

Joe has been a barber for over 50 years and still has many of his same customers who are now his friends. He started writing down many of the insightful comments, thoughts, quotes and words of wisdom that he heard from the conversations in his shop. As a result, Joe wrote the book Wisdom from the Barber Chair. 

Joe has been a judge in national hair styling competitions and won first place in a tri-city barber/stylist competition. He was an innovator of the "Sculpture and Razor Cut" in the Philadelphia area. 

Joe and his wife of 46 years, Gina, have three children and four grandchildren. His favorite hobby is gardening. Joe is also an active member of Sons of Italy and St Alberts the Great Catholic Church.