Guinness World Record Holding World’s Oldest Working Barber Dies At 108

Anthony Mancinelli held Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest working barber. The title was conferred on him in 2018 when he was 107 years old. Mancinelli, of New York, died on Sept. 19, 2019, at 108 years old.

Mancinelli started his career as a barber almost a century ago when he charged 25 cents for a haircut, The New York Times reported.

It was in the year 1923 when he began cutting hair at Fantastic Cuts in New Windsor. At the time of his death, he charged $19 for a haircut, told the owner of the hair studio, Jane Dinezza to CNN.

Dinezza further added, "He's a legend, one of the TV stations asked who would work in his chair now. I didn't think of it then, but could anybody fill that chair? No."

Dinezza also said that the chair will be left open as a tribute to Mancinelli.

His stint spanned 96 years and the upstate resident never retired. It was unflagging passion for his work that kept him going, said his son, Robert. Mancinelli died as his jaw cancer complications aggravated.

According to Guinness World Records, Mancinelli immigrated to the United States as an 8-year-old. He started off with sweeping floors at a barbershop and then graduated to cutting hair at 12 years old to aid his family financially. In Newburgh, he attended grad school but left his studies incomplete.

"He just loved his job," and enjoyed doing everything associated with it. "Everybody loved him. He's known worldwide," CNN quoted Robert as saying.

Mancinelli was diagnosed with cancer in February this year but he was hale and hearty prior to that. He started feeling weak and needed rest aplenty about six weeks before his death. Despite the fact that he would get tired easily, he planned to return to work soon.

Mancinelli, who lost his wife 15 years ago and other son 36 years ago, continued cutting hair for his other relatives until his death. "I got to find a new barber now," said his son Robert whose hair Mancinelli had cut for all 82 years of his life.