Author: Donna Ardizzoni

A wonderful essay from Lorenzo’s daughter.  Thank you, Teresa for sending this to me.

A Farewell to Lorenzo’s Coiffures: 46 Years of Heart, Craft, and Community

After 46 years behind the chair, Gloucester bids farewell to a beloved fixture in Magnolia, my father, Lorenzo Delisi, who is retiring from hair styling and closing Lorenzo’s Coiffures on Lexington Avenue.

For nearly five decades, my dad has been more than a hairdresser. He has been a listener, a friend, a teacher, and an artist whose scissors and comb shaped not just hairstyles, but stories, memories, and relationships that spanned generations. Customers followed him faithfully fathers bringing sons, mothers bringing daughters, and entire families who trusted no one else with their hair.

What made my father special was not just his skill (though his precision haircuts for men and women were known across Cape Ann), but his heart. He never turned away a client, never lost patience, and always found joy in his work. To him, the salon was not just a business, it was a community. He opened his doors to new stylists starting out, to family members interested in learning the craft, and to every customer who walked in, whether for a single visit or a lifetime of appointments.

I grew up in his salon, answering phones, sweeping floors, and watching in awe as he moved effortlessly from cut to color, always knowing when it was time to rinse, when it was time to style almost like watching a musical in motion. His rhythm, his grace, and his devotion to each customer left an impression on me that words can hardly capture.

What I can say is this: my dad never once complained about his work. Not once in 46 years. He loved it, loved making people feel good about themselves, loved conversations, loved being part of his clients’ lives. His customers were his priority, and he would move mountains to make them happy.

This milestone is also a testament to resilience. Lorenzo’s Coiffures thrived through the ever-changing tides of Magnolia for nearly half a century. That endurance speaks volumes about his dedication, the loyalty of his clients, and the love he poured into his craft every single day.

On behalf of our family, we thank each and every person who has sat in his chair, shared a story, or trusted him with their hair. You gave him purpose, joy, and a way to express his creativity and love.

Dad, as a man, a brother, a father, and a stylist we are so proud of you. Your legacy is written not just in the history of Magnolia Avenue, but in the countless lives you’ve touched with kindness, patience, and artistry.

Here’s to a well-deserved retirement, and to 46 years of beauty, community, and love.

With gratitude,
Your Daughter, Teresa Morgan (and the Delisi Family)