peacefully on March 27, 2015 at his home in Westlake Village, CA. Adolph was
one of eight children. He was born in The Bronx, New York to Italian Immigrant
parents Eugene Basile Pagano and Anna Marie Marino. After high school, his love
for music inspired him to become a band leader. Using the name Al Simon and
Band, he often played at Grossinger’s in the Catskill Mountain Resort. He himself
played 5 instruments. His father moved the family to Pittsburg, PA, where Adolph
attended Duquesne University to study medicine. When his father was offered
the position of CEO with May Co on the west coast they moved to Los Angeles.
Having left school, Adolph became a furrier. While living in Los Angeles, Adolph
became interested in boxing and won several amateur titles. In January of 1943,
he enlisted in the US Navy where he attended Radar Radio Operator School and
Aerial Gunner School. As a radio man he flew many missions, evacuating the
wounded and extracting American Service men from abroad. In January 1946, he
was honorably discharged and awarded a WWII Victory Medal; good conduct
medal and 3 stars for his service. Adolph always said he was proud of his service
to his country. After leaving the service, Adolph, along with his twin brothers,
Alfred and Eugene, opened Pagano’s Hair Salon, which became the Salon to the
stars ‐ their clients included Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor,
Lucille Ball, just to name a few. They were famous for creating the Platinum
Blonde for Jean Harlow, and the hair style for Disney’s Barbie Doll. During the
Pagano Salon years, Adolph was offered the position of Vice President with
Revlon and, after much consideration, turned down the offer. He went on to
create, with much success, Lacquer spray and Sparkle Wings for hair and pink
parfait nail polish. He founded the Hair Guild and started Hair Shows as we know
them today. Thirty years later, along with his nephew Jon, Pagano’s Hair Salon
became Jon Peter’s Hair Salon. Their combined fame still resonates today. In
1948, he married June Drew and together they had five daughters. A few years
later he married Marsha Marcoe and they remained together for 15 years. Adolph
had a love for golf and in his retirement played several times a week. Often his
foursome consisted of his good friends, Michael Ansara, Jamie Farr, Tom Bosley
and, on occasion, even Mickey Rooney. As Adolph was approaching his 90’s, he
was the only golfer on the coarse that was allowed to drive his cart up to the
green. However, always the proud man, he mostly walked. After he began to
experience discomfort in his knees, Adolph’s golf game changed to a putting
carpet in his garage. In 2012, he sold his home on Westlake Island and moved into
an assisted living where he had his own small apartment. It was time to let
someone else do the cooking, cleaning and laundry. Adolph is survived by his
brother Alfred and daughters Pennie Spain, Debbie Polisky (Rick), Susie Wald
(Craig), Therese Kassan (Alan), Chris Pagano; grandchildren Jamison Malone
(Steve), Cameron, Ryan (Jordan), Blake (Lauren), Courtney, Drew, Alexandra,
Kacey, Lane, Callie, great grandchildren, Makenna, James, Tanner, Brooklyn,
Kayden. He was preceded in death by his Father Eugene and Mother Anna,
brother Eugene and Sisters Josie, Jessie, Helen, Ruth and Anna.
In Leiu of flowers the Pagano family requests donations be made to the Veterans Hospital in Adolph's name
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