Legendary Lansdale Barber Felix Molettiere, 92, Leaves Legacy

He'll be cutting hairs in Heaven.

Felix Molettiere, 92, the son of Italian immigrants Soccorso and Rosina (Boccella) Molettiere, owned and operated Molettiere's Barber Shop on West Main Street since 1955. The shop is located in the same small retail strip with such other renowned Lansdale stalwart stores like The Lord's Shop, Penn Valley Hobby Center and Stuart's Music.

Molettiere, a barber since 1949, died Saturday at Elm Terrace Gardens in Lansdale.

I don't remember ever getting my first haircut, but I do remember that the haircuts at Molettiere's were great, almost comforting. 

My mom began taking me to Molettiere's for my haircuts as a single-digit-aged youth. 

After a while, I began to get a routine when I stepped in through the back door from the rear parking lot (or, seldom, the front doors off Main Street).

Walk in and head for the wooden pretzel rod bin next to the cash register. (And were talking old timey cash register).

With two pretzel rods in my little mitt, I made a beeline for the back shelf and its stack of magazines. Being a kid, I chose what looked the most entertaining: an "Archie" comic.

Nibbling on the pretzel, dropping chunky crumbs onto the colored pages of some Jughead and Reggie story, I was in my moment. I was about to get my haircut, and here I am eating and reading comics.

When my "Next?" came up, I headed in either one of two directions: Left to Felix or right to his son, Tom.

Felix was good. Tom was a little bit better.

I've always been a fan of the haircut. You feel crisp, so fresh, after each one. I mean, this was a place that had the straight razor shave. And as a kid, that's cool. I always said I'd get one, one day. Maybe I've waited too long.

Molettiere's Barber Shop just had that vibe, that good, wholesome, small town, borough vibe. You could feel the history oozing from its walls. There was comfort in the chair and with the barber. The mirrors, the seats, the TV up in the middle of that high shelf, the sound of that cash register.

The only thing I ever thought was missing was a barbershop quartet. I always imagined just four dudes dressed in the hats and the striped red and white suits, mechanically rising up from a stage from a door that opened behind the seats. 

If you went to Felix, every once in a while, he'd stop mid-cut to take care of two customers who came in to get some jewelry appraised. Felix was the only man in Lansdale who carried a pair of scissors and a magnifying glass in the same pocket.

In reading Felix's obituary, I found out some things I didn't know about him (or didn't remember/realize as a boy).

The man that cut my hair as a kid served in the European campaign during World War II. Thank you, Felix.

He was also a Knight of Columbus, out of the St. Pius IX Council on Eighth Street.

He also had a nickname—Rich.

Felix was married for 64 years, to his wife, Stella. In addition to Tom, who resides in Lansdale with his wife Mary, Felix has three other children: Richard F. Molettiere, who lives in Omaha, NE with his wife Sharon; Deborah Garges, who lives with her husband Robert in Hatfield; and Fort Wayne, IN resident Terri-Lynne Snyder and her husband Jeffrey.

All in all, Felix has 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren to carry on his legacy.

I also found out something bittersweet: Felix was the last of his siblings to die.

He had five brothers: Jerry, John, Frank, Louis and Girard. He also had five sisters: Teresa Molettiere, Jean Tedesco, Celeste Becker and Louise Saldutti.

As I got older, I went to Molettiere's less and less. I began relying too much on Hair Cutteries and Supercutses. 

I believe Felix left a legacy in town, not just with his customers and family, but also with other local barbers and business owners.

He's surely influenced my life. 

Godspeed, Felix.

Family welcomes friends and relatives Wednesday morning, starting at 8:30 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Church in Lansdale.

Felix's Mass begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by interment in St. Stanislaus Cemetery at the family plot.

While Molettiere's Barber Shop remains open to this day (and is seeking a barber at present), the Molettiere legacy also exists with Felix's nephew Jerry Molettiere at Razor's Edge in Harleysville, Lower Salford.

If you prefer, here are some other local barber shop options:

• Rod Rogers' Family Hair Care
• Vince Paone Barber Shop
• Alex's Razor's Edge
• VIP Barber Shop
• Finest Barber Shop