Dressed impeccably in a fitted suit, a crisp, clean shirt, tie and sharp dress shoes, Arnold Zegarelli created a presence in the salon.
And as one of the most well-known hairstylists in the city and beyond, he stood the test of time in the beauty industry.
The nationally recognized stylist died on Saturday from Alzheimer’s disease at 89.
He would have turned 90 in July.
“It’s a sad day for Pittsburgh,” said Philip Pelusi, a fellow iconic Pittsburgh hairdresser. “We lost a Pittsburgh icon. He influenced so many people as a teacher and motivator, along with his natural talent for doing hair. Everyone in our trade knows Arnold Zegarelli.”
His most recent salon location was a space inside the Izzazu Salon, Spa & Blowout Bar in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Zegarelli told TribLive in a story in 2015 he loved what he did.
“My passion is I like to help people,” he said.
That helping came in the form of the one-on-one interaction with the people who sat in his chair. As he got older, he trimmed his hours to Thursdays in the Izzazu Salon before retiring a few years ago. But he never slowed when it came to continuing to be an educator and motivational speaker.
“Since I am only here one day a week, I savor every moment,” Zegarelli told TribLive in 2015. “I believe in respecting the person sitting in your chair. And it’s my job to make her, or him, feel good about themselves.”
He said being a hairdresser is about giving the right cut, one that should be adaptable to a person’s face, body, self-image, career and goals.
As people age, their hair should be updated and reflect who and where they are in life, Zegarelli said. His interest in the profession began in high school when girls would ask him how they should do their hair.
“My dad was always classy, and he always dressed impeccably,” said his daughter, Ronda Zegarelli, who remembers her dad giving her a pixie haircut as a little girl. “And he was obsessed with lipstick, so when he would see me, if I wasn’t wearing lipstick he would ask me where it was. He always tried to look for the best in people. He loved to mentor younger people. He always wanted to give back.”
Arnold Zegarelli had three brothers. He and his brother, Robert, who grew up in East Liberty, opened the Coiffure Creation Academy in 1961 at the Pittsburgh Beauty Academy.
After meeting British hair legend Vidal Sassoon in London, the Zegarelli brothers brought his cutting style back to Pittsburgh and worked at the Horne’s Department Store salon.
Robert Zegarelli died in 1981.
“He, and his brother, made a difference in the industry,” Pelusi said. “This is the end of an era. They don’t make people like Arnold Zegarelli anymore. My condolences to his family.”
Pelusi recalled being in beauty school when Zegarelli appeared as a guest artist and teacher.
“We were very impressed with his presence and demeanor and his message, which transcended time,” Pelusi said. “What Arnold said was applicable then, now and will be into the future.”
Longevity is a word to describe Zegarelli, Pelusi said. He was able to adapt and change as the business changed.
“That is a tribute to him,” said Pelusi, who is celebrating 60 years in business. “He was amazing indeed.”
Following his tenure at Horne’s, Arnold Zegarelli opened Premier, a salon in Downtown Pittsburgh, before working with Emilio Cornacchione and Gino Chiodo, co-owners of Izzazu.
Zegarelli was a mentor, Cornacchione said in 2015 when asked about Zegarelli’s influence.
“Arnold is the epitome of discipline and great mentorship. He always focuses on the positive in every situation — both professional and personal,” Cornacchione said at the time. “He’s taught me about having balance in my life.”
Cornacchione visited Zegarelli last week, Ronda Zegarelli said. He brought a priest to give a blessing. Cornacchione was like another son to her dad, she said.
Zegarelli was known for his inspiring quotes and sayings to provide motivation, such as “BAG — Blessing, Accomplishment and Goals” and “No one cares about what you know until they know you care first.”
Arnold Zegarelli always told his children that the best gift a father can give to his children is to love their mother. Arnold Zegarelli and his beloved wife of nearly 67 years, Dolores, lived in Penn Hills until moving to Fox Chapel when their children, Ronda and Gregg, were adults.
Ronda Zegarelli said her dad loved the Fox Chapel house where he had a view of the Allegheny River. He would sit outside reading and writing. He wrote a few books.
“He was always learning and growing,” she said.
Ronda Zegarelli said her father inspired her creativity. She is vice president of marketing for Pittsburgh Brewing and Iron City Distilling, founder of Acrobatique, Pittsburgh Earth Day and Green Voice.
“We have had so much wonderful support,” Ronda Zegarelli said. “To know he will be missed by so many means so much to our family. He touched so many people’s lives, but he always made us feel like we were the most important people in his life.”
Arnold Zegarelli used to call his daughter to tell her how much it meant to him when he posted something on Facebook and he received a lot of likes. He was proud of his Italian heritage.
“He grew up in a culture of love … and family tradition,” Ronda Zegarelli said.
She shared some thoughts on social media: “Goodbye my beautiful father. We have no regrets. Every telephone call and time together for every day of my life ended with I love you. You are an inspiration and an incredible man and father. I will miss you every day, and I will forever remember being with you as you took your last breath right after I said ‘thank you.’ ”
She said her dad’s legacy will carry on through those who knew him and who were inspired by him.
“Everything I am is because of him. The voice inside my head in both the good times and the hard times is his voice. And although his flame may be fading, the light he placed inside of me will forever burn brightly,” his daughter wrote. “Dad — I love you to the stars and moon and back. You will always be my hero, my inspiration and one of the greatest lights of my life.”
Ronda Zegarelli, who lives Downtown, said the staff at Friendship Village took great care of her father the past few months.
A few days ago, she asked people to share any way her father touched their lives. She said she would read those words to him. His family was with him on Saturday, and he was positive to the end.
“He held my mother’s hand and blew kisses to us,” his daughter said. “Those final moments were both hard and beautiful. We are going to celebrate a life well lived.”
A celebration of Ronald “Arnold” Zegarelli’s Life Well Lived will take place May 22 at Slater’ s Funeral Home in Green Tree. There will not be a Mass. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A blessing will be given at the end of the evening.