By Jessica Fitzpatrick
“Mike Spezzano is a legend”. These were the words our CEO and President, Frank Gaudio, said to me upon asking me to write this biography on Michael. And Frank knows legends-go anywhere in the tristate area with him and it’s guaranteed someone’s going to stop and ask “Hey, aren’t you the guy from the billboards?”…
Born July 19, 1931, Michael came from a family of modest means. His father was the first postmaster in Riverside and his mother was a dressmaker at various shops in town. As a boy, he remembers her taking trips down to NYC to view the newest creations on sale at Bloomingdales and Sak’s. She’d later take those memories and recreate them into affordable versions of their former haute-couture selves selling them to the ladies of Greenwich. It seems this taste for beauty ran deep within his maternal side; his uncle, Emilio Strazza, was a sculptor whose works can still be viewed today. Here in Greenwich, he helped with the design and erection of the soldier sculpture in front of the Greenwich Board of Education building. He’s also to be credited with assisting in one of NYC’s greatest landmarks: the 2 lion statues that guard the hallowed steps into the Public Library. I asked if it was this uncle whom Spezzano Drive here in Greenwich was named after, but was told it was his Uncle Louis Spezzano who purchased the land in the early 1900’s.
Interesting to note, it was Michael’s staid father who led him to his profession. Determined to have his son receive an education but unable to afford college, his father encouraged him to sign up for a beauty program at Wright Tech, a state technical school in Stamford. Discovering an unexpected joy for the work, he was the school’s first male graduate and his career was launched. After working at a few beauty shops here in Greenwich, Michael heard of an opening at a training school launched by Sak’s Fifth Avenue and jumped at the opportunity. He was so skilled, they offered him a position upon graduating and he began building his client list in NYC.
At about 20, Michael grew weary of the commute to and from NYC and opened his first salon in an apartment building just above Greenwich Avenue. Michael’s “Chateau Lafayette” quickly became known as the “it salon” for the next 15 years, with Michael making home and office visits to the more illustrious members of Greenwich society. However, as the salon’s popularity grew and the size of the space did not, Michael began envisioning something bigger and better and set about seeking it.
After visiting the then-famous Breck Salon, he was so impressed by the Georgian style living room that served as their reception area that he sought out the owner and asked for his assistance in recreating it at his next salon. Discovering the perfect location for it on Benedict Place, he set about creating his second salon in an old house not zoned for commercial business. At this point Michael’s notoriety was well-known throughout the area. Upon opening in 1966, “Michael’s Beauty Salon” was just as successful as its predecessor. However, after numerous requests from US Tobacco to purchase the location, and a final “name your price” appeal, Michael handed over the keys in the early 70’s and began searching for his third location.
Finding it in another old house at 112 Mason Street, the final “Michael’s Beauty Salon” was as much of a success as the former, before finally closing its doors in 2002. It’s a true testament to Michael being woven into the fabric of Greenwich that members of staff here at the Bank can still remember getting their hair done, or watching a friend get worked on by him in their youth.
At 21, Michael met Loretta Testa, the woman who would be his wife, while she was babysitting his neighbor’s children. Shortly after, in 1952, the two were married. Michael joined the US Air Force with Loretta following him to the Sheppard Field airbase in Wichita Falls, TX, for their honeymoon and his training. After about a year, they returned East and set up home back in Greenwich with Michael working at the airbase in Port Chester. Michael and Loretta were married for 68 years, and had 4 children before Loretta passed away on June 16, 2021, at the age of 90, with her family by her side.
An artist at heart, Michael was always drawing in his spare time, but after joining the Greenwich Senior Center he really began to let it flow. Painting for the sheer joy of creation, Michael loves to imitate different artists and experiment with different styles. Living alone nowadays, he’s never far from an easel and will paint whatever he’s inspired by whenever the inspiration strikes.
He says “Painting is an expression of my feelings. For me as an artist, the pleasure is two-fold. First, is the enjoyment when creating. Painting, outdoors in particular, alone with something you are creating, is something quite unique – the scene, the sounds, and the changes that occur in the clouds. Second, is the gratification when you see the end result.
Having painting for the past 5 to 15 years, makes you see something different in every scene that you can take apart and paint. One gains an appreciation for the beauty in a forest, a seascape, etc. There is always something that captures your eye and inspires you to create a new image. Whether I’m painting trees, or landscapes, the mood will determine the outcome.”
As you walk through his basement gallery hung with twinkling Christmas lights, and dotted here and there with burned out candles, the scope of his work is evident everywhere you look. Hundreds of paintings sprawl about the room, on the floor, on easels, hung on the walls and handmade wooden frames or pallets in the center of the room, revealing a diverse symphony of imagery and color. Landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes are beside portraits, nature scenes and still lives. A perfect replication of Vermeer’s “Girl With A Pearl Earring” sits next to something you think is a Monet, but is actually a Spezzano original. And with a painting taking him merely a few hours to complete who knows how many more are still to come. Many, we hope. At 91 years old, Mike is as indefatigable as he is legendary, and we’re glad for it. We just had our 3rd art show with him and are looking forward to another. If you missed the show earlier this week, you can visit us at our Cos Cob branch at 444 E Putnam Avenue to see the work he’s done over the last few years.
