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Shear bliss for Korean War Barber
On 1/1/1952

Contributed by: Karen Weidner on 7/28/2006

It was either work in the Navy Dining Hall or the Navy Barber Shop.

Lakewood Master Barber, Joseph Vasquez chose the Barber shop. It was 1952, Vasquez was a 2nd. Class Ship Serviceman/Petty Officer in the United States Navy and stationed at a U.S. Navel airbase in El Centro, California during the Korean War.
At the time, Vasquez was working as a Manager of the Navel base deli when he was approached about the transfer. "I thought it might be more interesting than making sandwiches all day" says Vasquez who at the time was a mere 21 years old. Vasquez received on-the-job training as a Barber and cut the hair of newly recruited servicemen.

Little did he know that fifty years later, he would find himself still working in the business.

After his release from the Navy in 1954, the Colorado son returned to his hometown of Trinidad, in southern Colorado and met and married his wife Esther.

The newlyweds quickly realized that they would have to move to Denver to find suitable work. Vasquez landed a position with the United States Treasury Department at the Bureau of the Denver Mint. "As my family started to grow, I quickly realized I needed to find part-time work to help make ends meet." said Vasquez.

That's when he decided to enroll in classes at the Colorado Barber College which at the time was located on Larimer Street in downtown Denver. Vasquez says it wasn't an easy undertaking.

"I was working the swing shift from 3 to 11 p.m. at the Mint and attending classes from 8 to 2 p.m.- five days a week. It was like having two full time jobs!" said Vasquez.

Eight months later he got his certification and Barber license.

Since the mid 1960's, Vasquez supplemented his income from the Denver Mint working evenings and weekends for various barber shops in and around Denver. He claims over the years, the work has offered him a chance to interact with all kinds of people from various walks of life. The part-time barber gigs also helped Vasquez put his six children through private school and college.

Upon retirement from the Denver Mint in 1989, Vasquez started thinking about purchasing a shop of his own - an idea that he had flirted with for many years. That opportunity came in 1992, when he opened Joe's Barber Shop located at First and Knox Court in west Denver. He hired and managed a couple of other Barbers and he claims the shop did quite well for several years.

Unfortunately, Vasquez was forced to sell the shop about five years ago, after his wife became seriously ill.

"My honey insisted I continue to work as a barber, at least a few days a week, so that I could take a break from caring for her" said Vasquez.

With several friends in the business, and his years of experience, it wasn't hard for him to find part-time work. He most recently worked for a shop located at Alameda and Union in Lakewood, but left after his wife's condition deteriorated. Last December, his wife of 50 years passed away.

Not ready to retire, Vasquez recently joined Colfax Village Barbers at 9707 W. Colfax Ave. at Kipling in Lakewood. Barber Monica Jiron recently purchased the shop, which has operated as a Barber shop since 1948. As a grand opening special the shop is currently offering haircuts for $10.

Vasquez says the Barber business has been good to him. He says he's seen a lot of changes in the business over the years. He thought the Beatles would put Barbers out of business during the 60's and 70's - with the long hair craze. He's grateful that buzz cuts are back in style.

His clients are thankful he hasn't quit the business.

"Good barbers are hard to find. My dad was classically trained in both the Navy and at Colorado Barber College. He's spent more years barbering than most people spend married. He's an old fashioned Barber who cares about his customers" says daughter Valorie Vasquez.

Vasquez believes Barbering will help her father get over the loss of his wife and keep him busy and active for many years to come.

Colfax Village Barbers accepts walk-ins. For an appointment with Joe Vasquez call 303-237-4463. If you forget his name - just ask for the former Navy Barber.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Karen Weidner

Evergreen , CO

Karen Weidner has posted 1 story and 0 comments since joining on 7/19/2006. Karen Weidner 's average story rating is 0.
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