Joe and Celia Nesser ran a hair salon for 40 years, during which they raised five sons and lived in both Rochester and Pittsford, NY. Before they married, my father worked as a cab driver and held a factory job at night. My mother had always dreamed of owning her own salon, a goal she achieved with her parent's seed money when she was just 18.
Over those four decades, they employed fewer than 15 people, a remarkable feat in today’s world. This speaks volumes about their character and genuine care for others. The photo above shows my parents at a hair show in New York City during the 60s. If you look closely, you’ll notice my father is missing a tooth—likely a souvenir from a past fight. He embodied a John Travolta vibe, while our mother channeled Sandy from the movie *Grease*.
Their marriage of 48 years wasn’t without its challenges, but they were a shining example of how to navigate life’s difficulties together.