Beloved Morgan Hill hair stylist and repeat heart transplant
candidate Craig Moreno died less than a day after his friends,
family, colleagues and strangers raised thousands of dollars for
medical expenses at an all-day cut-a-thon at the salon where he
worked for more than a decade.
Beloved Morgan Hill hair stylist and repeat heart transplant candidate Craig Moreno died less than a day after his friends, family, colleagues and strangers raised thousands of dollars for medical expenses at an all-day cut-a-thon at the salon where he worked for more than a decade.
Moreno, 39, died peacefully about 12:45 p.m. Monday at Stanford Medical Center, where he was under 24-hour care while he waited for his second heart transplant, according to longtime Moreno family friend Julie Nunez who was holding his hand when he died.
He was surrounded by his wife Janine, mother and 8-year-old son Aiden, Nunez said.
“He fought the most valiant, brave battle that anyone could face,” she said.
On Sunday, more than 240 customers got their hair cut at Shear Color & Design in Candy Park on Monterey Road, which donated 100 percent of the proceeds to Moreno’s medical and family expenses, and to send his son to college.
“His dying wish was that his son would go to college,” Nunez said.
Known as the “Tin Man,” Moreno, a 1990 Live Oak High School graduate first experienced heart problems in 2001 just two days into his honeymoon in Hawaii. He had contracted cardio-megaly, a virus and at 29, Moreno was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. In 2003, Moreno received a new heart, but last month he fell ill again and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. The Morenos had to take a leave of absence from working at the salon indefinitely.
Moreno began suffering kidney failure in recent days and that’s what caused his death, Nunez said Monday.
“Cuts for the Heart” evolved shortly after he became sick again last month, and owner Stephanie Delgado sacrificed a day’s worth of revenue Sunday to harness the outpouring of love and money for the Morenos and their son.
The all-day frenzy began at 8:30 a.m. with 10 Shear stylists shampooing the hair of the day’s first customers. By 1 p.m., 100 people had passed through Shear’s doors for a cut. At $10 or $20 a pop – with many donating well-above the asking price – the fundraiser was “unbelievable” and went better than imagined, said the Moreno’s longtime friend and Shear manager Allison Vargas. The total amount raised was unavailable by press time. Two other fundraisers planned for Wednesday and Sunday will continue as scheduled.
“They’re very thankful (for the fundraiser). They are just overwhelmed but very thankful and glad. We’re really close. They’re my best friends. I’m so glad to be doing this for them,” Vargas said Sunday.
The Morenos’ situation broke the hearts of their friends at Shear who witnessed Craig’s affection for Janine grow as he went from a frequent customer to falling in love with Janine and getting his cosmetology license to continue his hobby of cutting hair at Shear. Seemingly every employee who works in Candy Park received an updated hair style Sunday to help Craig; like Lance Ung who works next door at Starliners Dance Studio. “We always try to be there for each other,” Ung said about Candy Park employees. “We worry about him.”
Dutchman’s Pizza at the corner of Candy Park hosted its own fundraiser, donating 20 percent of Sunday’s profits. At 8:30 p.m., after a long day on their feet, the stylists broke bread at Dutchman’s. “We did really good. It was really, really busy,” owner Jim Shuster said. He estimated the pizza parlor made more than $1,000.
Moreno grew up in Morgan Hill, played football at Live Oak and loved to ride his motorcycle (several motorcycles belonging to Vargas’ friends were parked outside the salon in his honor). Moreno coached youth baseball and football teams so he can spend more time with his pride-and-joy Aiden.
“I miss him,” Gary Linzeler told manicurist Danette Massa who was manning the front counter Sunday. Craig has been cutting Linzeler’s hair since 2004 and the two worked together during Pony baseball season since Linzeler is on the board of directors.
“Gosh, I love Craig,” Linzeler said. “He’s so involved in Pony baseball, he makes the signs for us. He loves doing that. He’s a coach. He’s just a great guy.”
The support did not just come from the Moreno’s many friends from Aiden’s Pony baseball teams or old buddies from Live Oak. Strangers, too, saw the signs along Monterey, or read the newspaper or saw the flyers around town and stopped in to help a family in the community. Eight-year-old Emmia Limones brought her purse filled with change to help the Morenos. She did it, “because it’s nice.”
“I told her what was going on and why we’re coming here. And she said OK, I can give them all my change. She was scrambling around the house looking for all the change to donate,” said Gilroy resident Erica Limones, Emmia’s mother. “I don’t know them, but it’s awesome to help. It’s the right thing to do.”
With so many eager to give, at times it was hard to maneuver through the salon. Chairs were lined as customers waited for a stylist with towels around their necks post-shampoo.
Conversations never slowed about how the Morenos were doing, filling the salon as voices tend to on any given day.
The Duceys – Galen, Jen and 2-year-old Jace – drove nearly an hour from their home in Pleasanton to support Jen’s childhood friend, Janine.
“They’re like sisters. My wife Jen is an only child and Janine and her sister are the closest thing to a sister she has,” said Galen while Traci Conelly washed his hair. Jace hesitated to contribute extra suds to Dad’s soapy locks. “He’s excited for his haircut,” Galen laughed about Jace. “There’s usually a lollipop at the end.”
Other volunteers ushered around the packed salon offering an array of baked goods, fruit, refreshments – all donated. With selfless smiles, they were enthusiastic to help however they could.
“We hoped it would be big. This is awesome. People are coming in, seeing how busy we are, and just leaving donations. Someone left a check for $1,000,” Massa said, looking through the log of donations.
“I can’t even talk about it. I’m going to bawl,” said Delgado, referring to the huge turnout as she scooted around the congested salon during the fundraiser Sunday.
Moreno’s memory will live on, at the very least for his son who he wanted to succeed, Nunez said. Knowing that his chances to survive even with a second new heart were not promising, Nunez has spent the past six weeks recording interviews with Moreno for his memoirs.
“I helped him write a good-bye letter to his son. Some day we’ll give Aiden the tapes of his dad’s memoirs. He was a fabulous dad.”
Reporter Michael Moore contributed to this story.
HOW TO HELP
Wednesday: Baskin Robbins, 230 Cochrane Plaza, will donate 10 percent of sales from noon to 2 p.m.
Sunday: Betsy’s Cafe, 650 Tennant Station will donate 100 percent of proceeds from a spaghetti dinner.
Donations can also be made directly to the Moreno family. Make out checks to Aiden Moreno; send it to the Bank of the West c/o Eva Thompson, 206 Tennant Station, Morgan Hill, CA 95037-5485.Â
