Obituary: Joe Verdi
Few communities can claim a business that is as old as Joe Verdi’s barbershop. Generations of Gardenville residents have passed through the doors of the shop at 5439 Belair Rd. Joseph Verderami, the owner, passed away on Oct. 6 at the age of 98.
In 1933 at the age of 24, Verderami opened his first shop on Frankford Avenue. Later, he moved the establishment to its present location on Belair Road. For business purposes he shortened his name to Verdi so that people could pronounce and remember it.Even in the last few weeks before his death, Mr. Joe or “Poppy” as his family called him was in the shop on a regular basis. He was still cutting hair two weeks before his death.
At the funeral home, friends, neighbors, and customers came to pay their respects. As a final tribute to him and to his craft, the family placed a comb and scissors in his hands.
Verderami is survived by a daughter and by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Presently, his granddaughter, Amy, who has worked with him for several years, is running the business.
– Mary Clare Simon
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