Former city barber settling into deserved retirement
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DUNCANSVILLE -- John Burk didn't want to retire, but it was time.
Burk, 81, retired from the Broad Avenue Barber Shop in June after cutting hair for 59 years.
"My doctor said 'it is time to hang it up, John.' I didn't want to quit but I could see the writing on the wall. I just wasn't up to doing it any more," said Burk, a Duncansville native.
Shop owner Ellen Forshey and another long-time co-worker Sue Harding, said Burk will be missed. Both had worked for him when he was a fixture for 49 years at the Logan Valley Mall Barber Shop.
"He was a great boss and employee, he hired me and then I hired him," Forshey said.
Forshey said Burk would joke around and his presence will be missed.
"I was always late and he would say good afternoon instead of good morning," she said with a laugh.
"He was like a father figure to me," Harding said, recalling she was hired by Burk in 1989, the first woman he hired.
"He was always just John the barber," she said. "He will be missed very much, we were sad to see him go but just hope he can enjoy his retirement."
Ali Steele, who opened the Keystone Barber School in Lakemont in 2021, remembers working with Burk at the Logan Valley Mall Barber Shop.
"John was like the best boss I never had. That man was very hardworking and dedicated. John worked next to me at the Mall Barber Shop and I'm so thankful he was there. He helped me out when I was just starting, giving me pointers," Steele said. "John is one of a kind. Because of John, everyone in my chair will always get a neck shave."
Burk was one of the original barbers when the Logan Valley Mall Barber Shop opened Feb. 24, 1967.
After graduating from Hollidaysburg High School in 1962, Burk entered the Army and was able to save money to attend Johnstown Barber School.
He started his career as an apprentice under Tony Turchetta at Peoples Barber Shop in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center.
"I was paid $5 a week as an apprentice," Burk said. "He was like a second father to me, any time Tony needed help I showed up. Tony was a role model and mentor."
"Tony hoped John would take it over," said Burk's wife Vicki.
Burk did buy the business from Turchetta in 1989. He put in some long hours at the shop.
"I worked six days a week. For five years I didn't take a vacation," Burk said.
Burk sold the business in 2007 to Barry Harkless.
"I was getting ready to retire, I was 65. I decided to work part time for a short while then I moved to Broad Avenue. Sue and Ellen asked me to come over. It was hard to leave the mall but it was time. We had a lot of fun over there," Burk said. "I wasn't ready to quit, I just didn't want the headaches of running the shop."
For the past several years, Burk worked three days a week and said he hopes his customers remember him as a "nice guy."
"He talks about his customers, he really enjoyed most of them," Vicki Burk said. "He tells me he misses being around the people after all of these years."
Retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Joseph Keirn of Altoona wrote Burk a nice letter upon his retirement.
"I had been going to John for almost 40 years. As barbers and customers go, it was a pleasure to talk to the man. When I got out of the Army, I wanted my hair cut a certain way. John was the guy who gave the best haircuts of everyone. He was always a nice gentleman to talk to. I just liked the guy," Keirn said. "John was always just a gentleman."
Despite some limitations, Burk said he is enjoying his retirement.
"I am enjoying this but I can't do anything outside, the heat takes my breath away," Burk said.
"He can't do a lot of things," Vicki Burk said, but the family hopes to get him stronger to do the things that he enjoys.
"I wasn't happy he had to retire because of his health," she said. "If he could retire and enjoy life it would have been nicer."
Burk said he hopes to be able to spend more time with his family.
"I don't drive much any more," Burk said, to which his wife jokingly replied: "If he doesn't quit telling me how to drive, he will have to get an Uber."
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.