Anthony Marsalese, the longtime owner of Antonino Salon & Spa and renowned for his skill in making people not only look but feel beautiful, died on May 18 following a brain aneurysm.
He was 67.
“This is going to affect so many people,” friend Cindy Wade said, in tears. “That man mentored for 40 years most of the people who run salons in Birmingham and those who left to run other salons across the country.”
Wade, now a stylist living in Arizona, was one of those many protégés. She honed her craft under the expert tutelage of Marsalese and his husband, Jeff Davison, for several years and called them “the perfect pair and best salon owners.”
Marsalese had an excellent mentor himself — his Uncle Nino Genna, a salon owner for more than 70 years. He paid tribute to his uncle with the salon’s name when founding Antonino in Birmingham in 1985. He also owned a second location in Commerce Township, where Wade worked for many years.
According to his obituary, Marsalese helped shape the beauty industry as a member of Americoif and Intercoiffure, leading associations for hair stylists.
Wade recalled his community involvement extended to events at Cranbrook, galas, and even a prom shoot, which took place in a junkyard with old vehicles.
Marsalese’s artistic talent also extended far beyond hair. He had a passion for music and had studied trumpet, singing and piano at Wayne State University and Interlochen and a love for theater that led him to perform on stage at St. Dunstan’s Theatre Guild of Cranbrook as well as work behind the scenes. In recent years, he had pursued ceramics, which led to his creations being shown at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center as well as in Detroit exhibits.
Wade said that like everything Marsalese did, he put his heart into his art, and the results were amazing.
“He was just a special man,” she said. “They don’t make them like that much anymore.”
In addition to his husband, Jeff Davison, Marsalese is survived by his sisters, Rebecca (Kirk) Freeman and Marie (Ron) Williams; brother Larry (Pat) Marsalese; niece Annette (Sam) Abdelfatah; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Lillian DuFau; father Bernard Marsalese; stepfather John Deyoub; and brothers Robert Marsalese and Henry Marsalese.
Visitation for Anthony Marsalese is set for 1-8 p.m., May 22, at Lynch & Sons, 1368 N. Crooks Road, Clawson.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m., with pre-visitation at 9:30 a.m., May 23 at Holy Name Catholic Church, 630 Harmon St., Birmingham.
Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Longtime beloved Birmingham salon owner Anthony Marsalese dies at 67
Reporting by Susan Bromley, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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