September 17 , 2004 Print this page

Christine Paranzino Already Known to La Salle University
Classmates as the Granddaughter of ‘Pete the Barber’

At her college orientation this summer, Christine Paranzino sat in the Dan Rodden Theater as some of the accomplishments and interesting facts about La Salle University’s Class of 2008 were revealed.

She blushed as “Someone here is the granddaughter of Pete the Barber” popped up on the projection screen. “The other freshmen know I’m coming,” said Paranzino, “but they don’t know who I am yet.”

She is the third generation of the Paranzino family to be affiliated with
La Salle. Her grandfather, affectionately called “Pete the Barber,” has been cutting hair at the University since 1939. Her father Dominic was graduated from La Salle, as did several of her cousins, due in part to Pete Paranzino’s encouragement.

Christine Paranzino, however, made the decision to attend La Salle not because the family connections. She said she chose to attend the University because of its excellent nursing program.

But she’s no stranger to following in her family’s footsteps; she was graduated from John W. Hallahan High School, where several of her female relatives also went.

“I have a feeling people are going to try and find me on campus,” she said. “My brother said it would be annoying. I think it’ll be fun.”

As for Pete Paranzino, he’s happy his granddaughter will be on campus, but does not think she will have much time to visit him. Although she will have a different experience taking classes at La Salle than Paranzino has had while working there, he says he has learned a great over the years.

“I can’t tell you how many times there have been multiple professors in my shop discussing their fields,” said Paranzino, who just turned 91 this month. “I’ve heard their conversations and picked up on a lot.”

Christine Paranzino, who will commute to campus, said she might try and visit her grandfather at his shop when she’s not in class. If she can’t, she’ll only have to wait until she goes home to see him; Paranzino lives with her family in Roxborough.