Larry Corda, the longtime Wellesley barber, passed away on Dec. 26. His wake will be held Thursday, Dec. 29, 4-8pm at Eaton Funeral Home at 1351 Highland Ave in Needham, followed by a Friday 9am funeral there, then a 10am mass at St. Paul’s in Wellesley. Family and friends are invited.

Corda’s Linden Street shop closed over the summer due to his ill health at the age of 86. Corda (whose actual first name was Renzo) owned a barber shop in town since 1958, and originally was located across the street from his most recent business. Corda and wife Maria had six children, all of whom went through the Wellesley school system and some of whom still have a presence in town.

According to an obituary for Corda, “Many of his clients not only miss his expertise as a barber, but his kindness as well. It was like Old Home Week at Larry’s, when you got four or five guys in there discussing everything including taxes and politicians and listening to Perry Como and Frank Sinatra on WJIB 740 AM on the shop radio.”

Condolences to the Corda family, which has strong roots in Wellesley, spanning 100+ years.

The Townsman profiled the family in this 2006 story, and looked back at Corda’s career in this more recent piece.