Joseph Patrick Terrance Donahue

Joseph Patrick Terrance Donahue On Friday December 14, 2018 Joe was born September 8, 1943 to parents of Irish and Italian descent Raised in Tacony /Wissianoming section of Philadelphia. Out of his 75 years Joseph cut hair for 62 years. World Renown Award Winning Barber Stylist. His career started at the age of 13 years old, cutting his friends hair in his Mother's basement. Then went to his Uncle John's barbershop in the Torresdale section of N.E. Phila., and Uncle John saw Joseph's natural talent for cutting hair, and so he taught him how to shave men. Joseph was just entering his freshman year at Father Judge H.S. He stayed with Uncle John for 3 years. Then his father got sick & Uncle John took Joseph to a first class barbershop in Willow Grove called Don's. The owner was Don Machia, Don loved Joseph's haircutting so much that he had him train the rest of his 6 barbers once every week. Joe stayed with Don 1 year, when at 17 years old he was offered a lucrative job in Roslyn for Sam Braccio were he stayed for 1 ½ year. In December of 1962 he opened his 1st barbershop in Rockledge called Joseph's barbershop. He hired another barber because he started traveling and entering Hair Stylist contests, winning many local awards which started with the biggest in 1964 at East Coast Hairstyling Championship in Washington, D.C. were he won first place. He went on to many stage performances and demonstrations up and down the East Coast. His next large award was the National Mens Hairstyling award on Sept. 28th 1966 in Detroit, Mich., accompanied with a $5,000.00 trophy after competing with 60 hairstylists. Clubman Pinaud Co. signed Joseph up to do shows all over the country. The next large International Championship he won was men's hairstyling in May of 1968 in Boston, Mass. He received Barber of the Year award from New York to Phila. in 1969. After all the awards and publicity his shop became to small, so he opened up the Masculine Touch on Huntingdon Pike in January 1969. Many would remember a very well decorated shop with a Ceasar Palace décor. Joseph became the most requested Barber for the Latin Casino celebrities. By request of the Master Barber Beauticians of America Joseph traveled thru Germany, Switzerland and France representing men's hairstyling. He was captain of the team winning the Silver medal. When he returned home he closed his shop moving to the Wyncote House where he stayed for 5 years. In 1979 he opened The ''Joseph Donahue School'' at Grant and the Blvd. in N.E. Phila. with 45 chairs, 28 of his students becoming successful stylists throughout the country. In Nov. 1987 Joseph closed the school and moved to Jenkintown where he opened a unique shop called Joseph Donahue's, but nicknamed the OVAL OFFICE. His friend Joe Di Lullo (DiLullo's restaurant) helped decorate the OVAL OFFICE making a classy and unique shop where everyone felt like family. The shop was Joseph's love affair! A short time after he met the love of his life and soul mate Lois. They married and were blessed with a loving family. Their wounderful daughter Mae, and her husband Joe, 3 awesome grandchildren Joey, Jessie, and Justin. The Oval Office closed in June of 2011 when Joe was stricken with head and neck cancer. Joe survived and worked his final days at Charles Barbershop on Bustleton Pike which is owned by Mike Martino and son Michael Jr. He was diagnosed with Colon and Liver Cancer and fought a courageous battle until God called him home on Friday December 14th. Family and friends are invited to Joe's Life Celebration Wednesday between 9:30 and 10:45AM in the church of Our Lady of Calvary 11024 Knights Road and to participate in His Funeral Mass at 11AM. Inurnment Private. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Joe's memory to St. Judes Hospital at www.StJudes.org would be appreciated. Family Service by John F. Givnish of AR www.lifecelebration.com