Denny's Battle

A beloved small town barber of almost 40 years unexpectedly and tragically closed his doors for the final time on Monday, December 21, 2020. What started as a year of hope and triumph ended in tragedy. After battling bladder cancer and chemotherapy at the end of 2019 Denny was hopeful for a full recovery. Chemotherapy sessions and doctor appointments were scheduled around his barber shop hours so he could continue to keep his old fashion one man barber shop open and servicing his customers in the  Mogadore community. Denny had surgery to remove his bladder in February of 2020 and had to temporarily close the barber shop during this time. This self employed barber put his hand written note in the window with his personal flip phone number explaining that he planned on being back in two weeks to once again service his customers. Unfortunately heart complications arose from the surgery and an extensive hospitalization occurred and the barber shop remained locked behind the promising sign of impending return of the proprietor. During this time many customers came to the hospital to visit and give well wishes of a speedy recovery. With the help of doctors and God a full recovery ensued and Denny was ready to reopen his shop....the world had a different plan and the COVID pandemic occurred. Like many small businesses Denny's barber shop was hit hard and was unable to open as an essential business. Denny kept up hope of battling cancer and always kept a positive outlook. Financial resources and all savings were exhausted during these times due to loss of work and piling of medical bills. Self employed barbers were not eligible for unemployment or federal relief funds. With the grace of God things turned around during the summer and the barber shop reopened with limited capacity. Denny was beyond happy to return to the shop to service and talk with his long time customers. A year of what Denny considered to be triumph turned tragic when on the night of December 21, 2020 he closed his barber shop and walked across the street and he was struck by a car. The first day of winter, the shortest day of the year, darkness and rain and the driver did not see Denny. Taken to the emergency room and undergoing emergency surgery he is unable to move or feel below his shoulders. Denny and his wife, Dianne, could use an extensive amount of prayer and financial assistance to help with healing and bills.