_________ Oceanside/island park ________
HERALD St. Anthony’s Feast delights
oceanside F.D. truck in car show
Coming soon: wrestling event
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Vol. 58 No. 25
JUNE 15 - 21, 2023
$1.00
Firefighter with many memories Robert Moyer is made honorary chief after 75 years of active service By KARINA KoVAC kkovac@liherald.com
Karina Kovac/Herald
RoBERt MoyER JR. with his 95-year-old father, Robert Moyer, the oldest member of the Oceanside F.D. and the only person in the photo at right, taken at an OFD function in 1952, who’s still living.
Robert Moyer, 95, is the oldest living member of Salamander Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company No. 1 in Oceanside, with a record of 75 years of active service. Moyer was recently honored with the title of honorary chief for his unwavering commitment to firefighting. On May 28, at Oceanside Fire Department headquarters, he was presented with an honorary chief badge in recognition of his many years of battling blazes
and safeguarding the community. He was named an honorary captain 25 years ago when he reached 50 years in the department. Born in 1928, Moyer joined the department at age 20 in 1949. Over the course of his career, he has seen significant advancements in firefighting technology and building materials — as well as an unfortunate decline in membership. Moyer, who serves as treasurer of the company, expresses his deep enjoyment at being part of the Fire Department Continued on page 4
A moving literary tribute to a brother with the magic touch By KARINA KoVAC kkovac@liherald.com
First-time author Philip Buttafuoco, of Oceanside, always wanted to write a book about his family’s immigration journey to America from Italy, but instead he has published a touching tribute to his brother, André, who died of AIDS in 1994. The children’s book, “André Learning Hair Styling,” not only tells the fact-mixed-with-fiction story of how André rose from styling horses’ hair to the locks of celebrities like Farrah Fawcett and Lori Loughlin. Released on May 6, the children’s book, available on Ama-
zon, became a reality after a friend told Philip they recently published a book. He realized he could do it now that he had the time, thanks to being retired. Philip, now 69, drew from early childhood memories for the book. “I thought about my brother as a little kid in Italy — he basically was playing with dolls and whatever to play and work with hair,” Philip reminisces. “I thought about it and came up with the idea. I think it’s interesting for kids. It’s fun.” During his prime, André styled the hair of celebrities and had the privilege of styling models alongside the legendary hair-
stylist Paul Mitchell. He traveled the world, showcasing his talents at various modeling shows, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and the individuals he touched. “Unfortunately,” Philip said, “he was on the cusp of becoming really famous. He was trying to copyright the Mooshka name, but then he got sick and passed away in ‘94. It was a really big loss.” People still approach Philip about André’s exceptional talent. “He was just so fast and so intricate and precise. He was just a m a z i n g , ” P h i l i p p ro u d ly recalled, saying André styled hair with his hands alone some-
times, truly showing he had that a magic touch. The Buttafuoco family ran a deli out of their home in Menfi, a small Sicilian town, while taking care of their nearby farm wh e re t h e y g rew g r ap e s, almonds, and olives to sell. André and Philip came to the United States from Sicily when Philip was 8 and André was 13.
Despite their humble beginnings, André always possessed a strong determination to chart his own path in life. “He was his own person,” Philip said. “He didn’t like to be told what to do, he was very independent, and when he had something in mind, he was going to do it.” Continued on page 2