Robert Steidl was born on Aug. 14, 1940 in Linz, Austria. Linz was occupied by the Nazi German party at that time and Robert’s family had the courage to give safe haven in their home to the Jews who were being hunted down. Robert had an early memory of an American soldier who was stationed in Linz after the Nazis were gone. The soldier reached out to little Robert and gave him a chocolate bar. The soldier’s name was Richard. Years later, when Robert had a son, he named him Richard. Robert never forgot.
Robert worked hard as a young man. At 14, he worked as a laborer for a bricklayer in addition to working in a local bakery. One day a friend pointed out to Robert that down the street at this hairdressing school there were "lots of pretty young women." In an instant, Robert gave up the bricks and the bread and went to study at the hairdressing school and got his license in hairdressing.
Robert traveled Europe pursuing his trade: Switzerland, Germany, London — where he worked with the signature hairdresser, Vidal Sassoon. He then decided to see the world while working: a cruise ship. He traveled to Singapore, the mid-east, Portugal and Greece. But while serving the guests on the ship, Robert noticed something: the American guests were the ones who tipped. “Americans must have a lot of money”, he surmised.
So how to get to America? He started in Canada – the city of Vancouver, B.C. And from there made his way into the U.S.: first San Francisco then on to L.A., Phoenix, Chicago, and Miami and finally, in 1964, to Northern Virginia. Robert opened five salons in the Northern VA area and then, in 1971, went to a salon on South Washington: Shylocks. He was quite the appealing hairdresser: young, good looking, exotically European, and with an eye for the ladies. And one day, a lovely young Eastern Airlines flight attendant named Mary sat in his chair. He did her hair on a Sunday and the next Wednesday they married. And for the next 32 years, until his death on Sept. 11, 2013, they were loving partners — both professionally and as husband and wife.
And from there came the legacy of which we write today, not only Robert’s passion for excellence and continues improvement, but also his commitment to mentor and provide guidance:
- Sponsoring 33 people to become American citizens — two of whom are co-owners and operators of the day-spa and salon, on North Alfred Street, The SugarHouse — exemplifying his belief in this country as the land of opportunity, and wanting to share that opportunity with others;
- Employing more than 300 people and helping many of them start their own establishments, taking joy in the success of others.
Robert Stiedl had a zest for life that was excessive: excessively hard working but with joy in a job well done; excessively altruistic, but with a joy for seeing those he mentored go on to succeed and achieve great things; excessively fun-loving — whether riding his Harley or skating along the Mt. Vernon bike path or perhaps, just walking quietly from his Mt. Vernon home to the workplace he loved. Robert was about excess: excessively loving: his wife, his family, his colleagues and the strangers whom he helped along the way and who then too became his partners and friends.
It is a privilege and honor for those of us who knew and loved him to have the opportunity to share his story with you. A story he never promoted, but a story that gave him joy and peace even in his last days. Thank you, Robert Steidl.