A customer, who might have been Ferdinand Langlois’ last, remembers his barber and friend.

I think I might have been Frenchy’s last customer.

According to my bank statement, I was at the bank at 1:45 p.m. that day, Jan. 12, and from the bank my wife and I went to the Dollar Tree on Lisbon Street and then to Burger King.

After that I went to Frenchy’s for my haircut.

Ferdinand Langlois – Frenchy’s real name – died Jan. 13. He gave his last haircut on Jan. 12.

From time to time, I’d stop at Frenchy’s for my haircut. Frenchy was always in a good mood, had the old-time songs playing. During French Days, he played records to celebrate. One time, while cutting my hair, Frenchy commented, “The faster the beat, the faster I cut.”

He kept out of politics because if two people were talking politics and one of them asked him, “Isn’t that right, Frenchy?” if he agreed with one, the other might be angry at him.

He said he liked all the people. Said he found the Somalis to be good people, just as we are. Some are nice and hard workers, and others are lazy and not so nice.

Frenchy mentioned his musical instruments to me. He asked if I played anything. My wife spoke up and said I play the guitar. I corrected her by saying I didn’t play the guitar, I played on it. This was as we were leaving the barbershop. Frenchy then gestured toward the back of the shop where his guitar was and began telling me how easy it is to play. With that, we said our goodbyes and left the shop, not knowing it would be our last visit with this man, who was a friend to everyone.

Another time while at Frenchy’s I told him I had stopped to get my hair cut and he was closed. So I went to another barber. Frenchy gave me his home telephone number and told me to call him and he’d cut my hair anytime.

Frenchy once told of losing his wife, and about the barbershop being in a building owned by his son. He mentioned having another son in the military.

He mentioned years ago of the late country music singer Hal Lone Pine going into the barber shop to have his boots shined. He said Lone Pine was very fussy with his appearance. Back in those days, barbers shined shoes and did haircuts. If the customers wanted, they got their shoes shined.

The decision to give Frenchy front-page newspaper coverage on Jan. 17 should not go without mention in that he shares the page with former U.S. President Gerald Ford. Both of these men, in their own ways, are great people.

In closing, I would like to mention. although I cannot substantiate it as a fact, that I do believe that, all in all, I was probably Frenchy’s last customer.

Wilfred Harrington lives in Bowdoin.