Longtime Barbershop Owner Mourned In Hatboro

HATBORO, PA —Louis DiTore was a fixture in the borough.

Since 1968, DiTore cut hair at his Louis DiTore Barbershop on Byberry Road, a staple in the borough since it first opened.

"Lou worked up until his passing and he loved nothing more than the interactions he had with customers each day," his obituary by the Schneider Funeral Home in Hatboro stated.

The Hatboro resident passed away on Jan. 6 at the age of 99.

When DiTore would put down his clippers, he listened to Opera and Big Band music, watched the Philadelphia Phillies, golfed, gardened, traveled, and spent time with his family. He was married for 60 years to his wife Elsie.

"The borough was deeply saddened to learn about (his) passing," borough officials said in a Facebook post. "On behalf of the Borough of Hatboro, our condolences go to Lou’s wife, Elsie, his three sons, Louis, Robert, and John, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and all who loved him."

DiTore, born in Union City, N.J., left traditional school at age 15 to attend barber school.

From 1939 to 1942 he worked at various barber shops in Philadelphia until he accepted a job for Anthony Volpe Barbershop, located across the street from Connie Mack Stadium, the neighborhood known to the locals as Swampoodle.

In that shop, he cut the hair of many famous Philadelphia Phillies players.

He lived through the Depression and then went off to World War II as a teenager. In 1963, DiTore married his wife and moved to Horsham Township.

Five years later, he opened Louis DiTore Barbershop on Byberry Road.

His obituary states that DiTore became an icon in the Hatboro-Horsham community for his passion and dedication to his work.

In addition to his wife, Elsie, Lou is survived by his three sons, Louis DiTore (Debbie), Robert DiTore (Jackie), and John DiTore (Eileen), his grandchildren, Nicole, Bobby, John and James, his great-grandchildren Dante and Dominic, his sister-in-law Dorothy Poli as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his oldest grandson, Michael DiTore (late husband to Rebecca), his brother, Carmen, sisters Mary and Martha (Paul), brothers-in-law Dante Poli, and Emidio (Mil) Sansoni and sister-in-law Hilda Sansoni.

Donations can be made to the Michael L. DiTore Small Moments Foundation, an organization created in honor of Lou’s late grandson, Michael. Donations can be made online at www.smallmomentsfoundation.org/donate or sent by check to: Attn: Rebecca DiTore, Small Moments Foundation, P.O. Box 26547, Collegeville, PA 19426.