YESTERDAY WAS JOE VOLPICELLI'S DAY

BP MARKOWITZ TO PRESENT PROCLAMATION TO JOSEPH VOLPICELLI, CELEBRATING 50 YEARS AS PARK SLOPE BARBER

On Thursday, October 20, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz visited Joseph's Haircutting Salon in Park Slope and presented a proclamation to barber Joseph Volpicelli, who first started working at the salon 50 years ago this month (full text of proclamation below). Volpicelli came to the United States in the late 1950's unable to speak a word of English, apprenticed at several barbershops in the city and then, in 1961, began working at the salon he now owns. In addition to cutting hair and listening to his beloved opera, Volpicelli has run in several New York City Marathons and has traveled the world with his wife.

Text of proclamation:

Whereas, it is most fitting that we recognize those extraordinary individuals from all walks of life whose very presence adds to the vibrancy that makes Brooklyn great; and

Whereas, I join alongside the family, friends, and admirers of Joseph Volpicelli as we gather together on the momentous occasion of the 50th Anniversary of his service at Joseph's Hair Cutting Salon at 97 Seventh Avenue in Park Slope, to celebrate this remarkable man who has become a veritable Park Slope treasure, well respected in his community since he and his family immigrated to Brooklyn over a half a century ago without knowing a single word of English; and 

Whereas, on behalf of all Brooklynites, I salute Joseph Volpicelli for a proud record of service to his neighborhood of Park Slope, having begun his career working as a barber fifty years ago-at this very same location-before becoming it's owner, I commend him, a man who has cut the hair and shared experiences with generations of families, and who still represents the era in Brooklyn when the neighborhood merchants knew the names of their customers and the birthdays of their children, and although he and his wife are world travelers Joseph knows that Brooklyn is still the best place to be, I congratulate him on the extraordinary lasting success of his business, in these days of rapid turnover and business losses his longevity is a testament to his peerless warmth-as he is always ready to entertain his loyal customers with a story of one of his family's many adventures or a new joke-his unwavering work ethic, and his firm belief in the American Dream, I wish him the best in all his future endeavors, and I thank him for recognizing that after all these years, Brooklyn is still a wonderful place to do business, and for helping to make Brooklyn a better place to live, work, and raise a family;  

Now, therefore, I, Marty Markowitz, President of the Borough of Brooklyn, do hereby proclaim Thursday, October 20, 2011  

Joseph Volpicelli's 50th Anniversary of Joseph's Hair Cutting Salon Celebration Day in the Republic of Brooklyn, USA 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Borough of Brooklyn to be affixed this 20th day of October, 2011.