Longtime Palm Beach barber, 90, gives final haircut after 77 years

After more than seven decades of cutting hair in barbershops around the world, Leo Martino hung up his shears for good on Aug. 29.

The 90-year-old Royal Palm Beach resident, who began cutting hair as a teenager in his native Italy, wrapped up his long career with a busy final day of work at Everglades Barber Shop in Palm Beach.

Martino has provided cuts and shaves at the Cocoanut Row shop off and on for six years, owner Ronnie Iaia said.

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He was one of three stylists at the small shop, which offers haircuts, shaves, scalp massages, manicures and pedicures for men.

"He's wonderful," Iaia said of Martino, who worked five or six days a week at Everglades depending on the season. "He's easy to deal with. He's a great barber. What else can you ask for? He's been here every day. You can't keep him out. I never had to worry about being late or anything, because he's always here. They don't make them like that anymore."

Martino, who has two children and six grandchildren, began cutting hair at age 13 at his uncle's barbershop in the Calabria region of Italy.

He left his hometown 11 years later for better job opportunities overseas.

Martino first settled in Toronto and then moved to California, where he lived on his uncle's farm until his immigration paperwork was finalized.

He moved to Detroit and spent the next 40 years cutting hair at four different shops that he owned in the city. Martino and his wife, Catalina, then moved to Florida in 2000, settling first in Pompano Beach and then Royal Palm Beach.

"It was too cold in Detroit," he said.

Martino started cutting hair at Everglades before opening his own shop, Leo's Golden Razor, on the corner of Brazilian Avenue and South County Road. During his more than 15 years there, he developed a loyal clientele, including longtime Palm Beach attorney Leslie Evans.

Evans, who once owned the building at 214 Brazilian Ave. that housed Leo's Golden Razor and other businesses, was one of Martino's final haircuts Tuesday.

"He gives a real quality haircut, and he's just a good person," Evans said. "I'm going to miss him. It's hard to get a good old-fashioned haircut in a men's barbershop. Ronnie's going to carry on the tradition, but Leo was the forerunner."

Martino returned to Everglades Barber Shop about three years ago after selling Leo's Golden Razor.

Cutting hair anywhere else was never an option, he said.

"This is the best place to be," Martino said of Everglades, which has been open to the public since 1937. "It's a great place, and I like the people who work here. The clients are great. This is the best."

Martino said he was sad to leave the shop and his clients after more than two decades on the island, but retiring after 77 years in the haircutting business was the right decision.

Catalina has been ill, he said, and caring for her is his top priority.

"She has to be taken care of, and he takes care of her," Iaia said.

As he embarks on retirement, Martino said he most likely is finished cutting hair, even as a hobby.

"I'm 90," he said. "I think I'm done."

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach barber, 90, puts away shears for good after 77 years