Longtime Melrose Barbershop Owner Killed In Front Of Shop

MELROSE, MA — Howie Aborn knew a bit about David O'Donnell. A crossing guard in front of the Lincoln School, Aborn had sat in O'Donnell's chair for a haircut on more than one occasion over the past four decades. And since Aborn holds the stop sign just a few crosswalks away from the barbershop, they had naturally crossed paths.

"He was just a great guy," Aborn said. "Always used the crosswalk."

O'Donnell died Friday, March 9. He was struck by a vehicle in front of the Yankee Clipper barbershop he owned for 41 years. He was 79.

It's not known if O'Donnell was in the crosswalk when he was struck; Aborn said he would have to have been hit hard to end up where he was found, about 20 feet from the crosswalk. But, Aborn repeated, "He always used the crosswalk."

Aborn rushed over when he saw the crash and told the driver, who stayed on the scene, to stay away from O'Donnell. Aborn, who is also a youth hockey coach in town and has medical experience from Team USA, tended to his sometime barber in the road until police came shortly after 7 a.m.

O'Donnell was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police did not confirm to Patch the identity of the victim or offer details on the incident. The fatality triggered an automatic investigation. No charges had been filed as of March 19.

O'Donnell was born in Charlestown, the youngest of eight children. He spent much of his life in Stoneham before settling in Melrose 25 years ago.

He was a bat boy for the Red Sox when Ted Williams played, something of which those who frequented his chair were well aware. Nearly two weeks after his death, O'Donnell's tiny shop was still littered with books and sports memorabilia.

"Everyone on this side of Melrose got their hair cut there," John Todd, owner of Cloud 9 ice cream shop next to Yankee Clipper, told Patch. "He was just a good guy."

A handwritten sign on the front door from the O'Donnell family thanked Melrose for its "decades long patronage" and indicated the Yankee Clipper was now closed. The sign came down after a few days.

Read O'Donnell's obituary at Gately Funeral Home here.

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Main photos by Mike Carraggi. Denise Smith returns to her post in front of Yankee Clipper.