Nothing says love like a buzz cut

Sure, you get along with your work buddies. You'll loan Joe a couple of bucks for lunch, commiserate with Annie over a horrible drive, chip in for birthday cake for Bob.

But would you shave your head to show support for a cancer-stricken co-worker?

The sales team at Riverfront Chrysler-Jeep in North Aurora are showing such solidarity with Internet sales manager Marc Fagot of Geneva.

Fagot, who is being treated for small-cell cancer in his brain, was shocked recently to walk into a Saturday-morning staff meeting to find 14 co-workers had either shaved their heads or gotten buzz cuts. (The lone woman had 6 inches of her hair cut off).

"He started up tearing and crying," said manager Paul McSkimming. Then "he started laughing."

"I thought it was incredible," said Fagot, who has lost his full head of silver-gray hair as a side effect of radiation treatments for his cancer. "Knowing this group of guys … were willing to forgo their looks."

Still, he couldn't resist cracking wise: "Some of these guys look better."

"Wow -- what am I doing?" is what ran through McSkimming's mind as he submitted to the clippers the Friday night before the surprise. (The idea came from the dealership's business manager.)

Fagot, who has been with the dealership a little over three years, is continuing to work as much as he can, even as he undergoes treatment for the cancer diagnosed nearly two months ago.

He's also been trying to keep up with his weight-lifting workouts at 5:30 a.m. with the football team at Geneva High School, where he coaches the running backs. "I'm trying to be as normal as possible," he said.

Fagot's wife helped facilitate the surprise head-shaving, making sure Fagot was sent on a "wild goose chase" errand so he would be a little late for the weekly staff meeting.

"She is still trying to get used to me being bald," he said.

His two sons also shaved their heads in support -- "much to their mother's dismay," he said.

Fagot noted when he played college football, his teammates nicknamed him "Meatball."

"Those same people could call me a cue ball (now)," he said.

Fagot has drawn inspiration for his battle from other sources, including a May 19 Boston Red Sox baseball game he listened to on the radio. Cancer survivor Jon Lester pitched a no-hitter for Boston, leading Fagot to think, "The best thing I could do is try."

"I'm not succumbing to this. It's something I'm going to beat," Fagot said.