Kids didn't mind getting hair cut by Wheaton barber

Business continues as usual at the New Image Hair Studio in Wheaton, but stylists say it will never be the same.

The man who started the salon in 1975, Wesley James Falcon, passed away on Feb. 14 after suffering a massive heart attack in his car. Family members presume the attack happened while Mr. Falcon was driving himself to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. Officials found him across the street from the hospital, unconscious in his car.

Mr. Falcon, a near lifelong resident of Wheaton, was 58.

In the salon where he had worked, pictures and cards continue to pour in and serve as a makeshift memorial to the popular stylist.

"Wes was such a people person," said Mike LaBianco, who worked beside Mr. Falcon for 32 years, and purchased the salon from him in 1988. "He was fun-loving and a real sports advocate that entire families came to."

In fact, while colleagues say Mr. Falcon could do all kinds of styling, on men and women, his real specialty was with children. Of all the stylists in the shop, families most often came to Mr. Falcon for their child's first haircut.

"He was really popular," added his nephew, Dave Yanke of Sycamore. "He had a real way with children."

LaBianco added that Mr. Falcon thought of his clients as friends, and that he attended all of their milestones, from weddings and funerals, to birthdays and graduation parties.

"He never married, so he was there for everyone," LaBianco said.

Part of his popularity, stemmed from his father's reputation in the city, friends added. Fred Falcon worked at a local print shop for years, then worked for the Wheaton Park District during his retirement years.

Mr. Falcon started accompanying his father to bowling leagues at the Wheaton Bowl as a child and he took up the sport himself at the age of 10. As an adult, he bowled in many leagues and competed in national amateur bowling tournaments.

While attending Wheaton North High School, Mr. Falcon was an accomplished student athlete, playing shortstop on the baseball team and forward in soccer. He continued playing soccer while pursuing an associate's degree in physical education at the College of DuPage, but earned his barber's license following college and made that his life's career.

Mr. Falcon began working at Baron's Den in Wheaton, but he soon opened his own shop with three barbers. It evolved into one of the first unisex salons in the Western suburbs, LaBianco said.

Mr. Falcon was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Margaret, and his brother, Alfred. Besides his nephew, he is survived by his sisters, Johanna Rummler, Pat (Paul) Turner and Beverly Ezze as well as several nieces and nephews and his great nephew, Kyle Yanke.

Services are planned for April, though a specific date has not yet been set.