Irving I. Wolfe, a barber whose patriotism and distinctive shop added color to Annapolis' Green Street, died Monday at Prince George's Medical Center in Cheverly, eight days after being injured in an automobile accident. The lifelong Annapolitan was 87.
The accident occurred Aug. 13 at Forest Drive and Bywater Road in Annapolis, where his car was struck by another vehicle. But family members say they had expected him to recover and were planning to bring him home this week.
Mr. Wolfe had been a fixture near the Annapolis City Dock for decades. He operated a combination barbershop and novelty store on Green Street, where he dispensed haircuts fit for General Assembly debates and held the floor to discuss a wide range of topics with customers.
Among those customers were state Comptroller Louis L. Goldstein and the late former acting-Gov. Blair Lee III.
Mr. Wolfe complained about other politicians who left him for fancy hairstyling salons when their careers ascended. "They got too big for themselves," he said in a 1974 article in The Sun.
He opened Services Barbershop in Annapolis while in his 20s. He operated for 50 years in three locations, but stayed on Green Street for more than 40 years, said his son, Edward Harris Wolfe of Annapolis.
Known as "Izzy," he added novelties to his business, selling flags of every state and country, cosmetics, beach towels, shoe polish and "adult-only" merchandise.
Customers who wanted haircuts had to wend their way around jam-packed shelves to his one barber chair. When they got into the orange chair, they could expect conversation on everything from politics to patriotism.
"I have interesting people to talk to," he said in the 1974 article. "Or if they don't want to talk, they can listen."
Mr. Wolfe learned the barber trade at 14, serving as an apprentice to an Annapolis barber. He joined the Army in World War II, becoming a combat infantryman in the Pacific and then a combat medic with Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd Army in Europe.
After the war, he opened an enlisted men's locker club in Annapolis, providing servicemen with a place to change into civilian clothes for a night on the town. It also was a place where soldiers would go to talk about their problems.
Mr. Wolfe was active in veterans organizations, including the American Legion, Jewish War Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a longtime chairman of the Council of Veteran Organizations.
He displayed his patriotism to the public -- he flew a flag in front of his shop and became known around town as "Flag Man." He also was called "Mr. Veteran" and "Mayor of Green Street."
He headed the Annapolis Peace Memorial Committee, one of several groups that for years pushed for the veterans memorial now located the center of historic Annapolis.
In 1975, Mr. Wolfe promoted the mass production of a 10-color flag for Annapolis, trying to get it distributed around the city for the nation's bicentennial celebration. He flew one at his barbershop.
He closed his shop in 1987 when it became too expensive for him to comply with building codes, family members said.
His wife, the former Florence Stein, died in 1990.
Mr. Wolfe was a member of Kneseth Israel Congregation, 1125 Spa Road in Annapolis, where services were set for noon today.
Other survivors include a daughter, Marcia Gould of Silver Spring; a brother, Leon Wolfe of Annapolis; a sister, Dorothy Kalin of Pasadena; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Memorial donations may be made to Kneseth Israel.
