diPIETRO, TOCCI

[Follow Ups] [Post Followup] [Marin County Obits Board]

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 at 08:41:32 :

Marin Independent Journal
Saturday, February 12, 1994
Section B, page 2

John Arthur dePietro dies at 45; benefactor of AIDS relief groups

Services will be held Monday for John Arthur diPietro, a well-known hairstylist and generous benefactor of AIDS relief groups.

He died Thursday at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae. He was 45.

"He had an innate sense of beauty and style - he was almost magical that way," said Kim Todd, a partner in diPietro Todd Salons of San Francisco and Mill Valley.

After operating a highly successful salon in San Francisco for several years, dePietro, Kim Todd and Andrew Todd last year opened the Mill Valley salon. DiPietro had lived in Mill Valley since 1985.

In 1992 and last year, the salon sponsored the diPietro Todd Croquet
Invitational at Golden Gate Park, which raised about $30,000 each year for Project Open Hand and the Marin AIDS Project.

"He was a kind, gentle soul who put his compassion into action and affected a lot of people's lives," said Diane Purgiel, development director for the Marin AIDS Project.

"He was one of our angels," she said.

The money was used to feed more than 5,000 people, said Geoff Doiron of Project Open Hand. The money made "a world of difference for those people who are too ill to feed themselves," Doiron said.

Both salons, where a haircut by diPietro could cost $75, were highly successful.

"We're not big on just making something pretty on a person's head," diPietro said in an interview last year. "We need to make them feel good on the inside."

DiPietro showed interest in his client's lives and worked to help them feel better about themselves.

"If people have a low self-esteem, a new hairstyle or color can make all the difference," he said last year.

He often styled the hair of celebrities and fashion models. He cut Tipper Gore's hair last year when she was in San Francisco.

Kim Todd said he was kind to co-workers.

"We never exchanged a harsh word," she said.

DiPietro and his employees often went on outings together, such as whitewater rafting, skiing and camping.

"We enjoy being around each other," he said last year. "Our customers feel they're a special part of that, and they are."

He was a native of Hagerstown, Md., and is survived by his mother, Mae diPietro of Maryland;and three brothers: Richard diPietro of Pennsylvania and Robert diPietro and Joseph diPietro, both of Maryland.

A memorial will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Pallazzo del Mare, 190 Harrison Ave., Sausalito.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Marin AIDS Project, 1660 2nd St., San Rafael,94901, or to Project Open Hand, 2720 17th St., San Francisco, 94110.
_____
A paid death notice was in the Feb. 11, 1994 issue of the Marin Independent Journal. Additional information: Mr. diPietro was born March 19, 1948, moved to San Francisco in 1978 and to Mill Valley in 1985. He was preceded in death by his longtime companion, Robert Tocci.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Message:	: Marin Independent Journal : Saturday, February 12, 1994 : Section B, page 2 : : John Arthur dePietro dies at 45; benefactor of AIDS relief groups : : Services will be held Monday for John Arthur diPietro, a well-known hairstylist and generous benefactor of AIDS relief groups. : : He died Thursday at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae. He was 45. : : "He had an innate sense of beauty and style - he was almost magical that way," said Kim Todd, a partner in diPietro Todd Salons of San Francisco and Mill Valley. : : After operating a highly successful salon in San Francisco for several years, dePietro, Kim Todd and Andrew Todd last year opened the Mill Valley salon. DiPietro had lived in Mill Valley since 1985. : : In 1992 and last year, the salon sponsored the diPietro Todd Croquet : Invitational at Golden Gate Park, which raised about $30,000 each year for Project Open Hand and the Marin AIDS Project. : : "He was a kind, gentle soul who put his compassion into action and affected a lot of people's lives," said Diane Purgiel, development director for the Marin AIDS Project. : : "He was one of our angels," she said. : : The money was used to feed more than 5,000 people, said Geoff Doiron of Project Open Hand. The money made "a world of difference for those people who are too ill to feed themselves," Doiron said. : : Both salons, where a haircut by diPietro could cost $75, were highly successful. : : "We're not big on just making something pretty on a person's head," diPietro said in an interview last year. "We need to make them feel good on the inside." : : DiPietro showed interest in his client's lives and worked to help them feel better about themselves. : : "If people have a low self-esteem, a new hairstyle or color can make all the difference," he said last year. : : He often styled the hair of celebrities and fashion models. He cut Tipper Gore's hair last year when she was in San Francisco. : : Kim Todd said he was kind to co-workers. : : "We never exchanged a harsh word," she said. : : DiPietro and his employees often went on outings together, such as whitewater rafting, skiing and camping. : : "We enjoy being around each other," he said last year. "Our customers feel they're a special part of that, and they are." : : He was a native of Hagerstown, Md., and is survived by his mother, Mae diPietro of Maryland;and three brothers: Richard diPietro of Pennsylvania and Robert diPietro and Joseph diPietro, both of Maryland. : : A memorial will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Pallazzo del Mare, 190 Harrison Ave., Sausalito. : : In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Marin AIDS Project, 1660 2nd St., San Rafael,94901, or to Project Open Hand, 2720 17th St., San Francisco, 94110. : _____ : A paid death notice was in the Feb. 11, 1994 issue of the Marin Independent Journal. Additional information: Mr. diPietro was born March 19, 1948, moved to San Francisco in 1978 and to Mill Valley in 1985. He was preceded in death by his longtime companion, Robert Tocci.