Hays Academy Mourns the Loss of an Industry Icon

Hays Academy Mourns the Loss of an Industry Icon

In the cosmetology industry, professionals and students alike seek to find someone that they can relate to, someone who has made a mark on the industry and given them incredible bits of knowledge to utilize in their own lives and careers. For so many of our staff and students, Fabio Sementilli was that mentor.

When we heard the news of Fabio’s death, every single one of us were hit with indescribable amounts of sadness and grief. Fabio lit up a room with his pure joy. His laughter was contagious. His passion for the beauty industry was unmatched. There will never again be a stage presence like Fabio’s where he made participants and attendees unite to celebrate the many successes that would take the stage and runways with confidence and excitement.

Hays Academy of Hair Design would like to express our deepest condolences and most reverent prayers for Fabio’s family, his many friends and the Wella family in this troubling time. As a school, we will always share his great legacy with our current and future students throughout the future generations of cosmetologists.

Fabio, thank you for being such a humble and inspiring man and stylist. Your impact on the Hays Academy family will forever be felt.

On January 20th, Fabio posted the following on Facebook. We feel as though these words describe who “Big Daddy” was to all of us.

“30 yrs ago today I received my Hairstylist Certification and my professional career started with optimism, an immigrant family work ethic with no pedigree in Hairdressing to speak of but I had a strong conviction with hopes and dreams. I must give a million thank you’s to my mentors, my friends and my family starting with my mom who always believed in me and gave me the strength to always get up and do it. I owe so much to my first Professional mentor my sister Mirella Rota Sementilli, beginning from our salon in the basement so many years ago.
I have been so truly blessed to have been mentored and inspired by the best (too many to mention), worked and created alongside so many talented and passionate Hairdressers in the salon, backstage and on stages around the world. I’m far from perfect but along the way I serviced thousands of customers with integrity and made lifelong friends along the way.
Today, I am not behind the chair servicing clients anymore because I’ve chosen to support my hairdressing brothers and sisters behind the chair who make a difference in people’s lives everyday.
I’ve never been a glass half empty kind of guy, I’m optimistic, I’m driven and I don’t accept the habit of negativity around me. I don’t sit on the fence and with this conviction I conduct myself everyday to ensure Hair and Nail Professionals everywhere can build a successful and sustainable career!
My favorite quote of Dr.King: Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail.
Be the best of whatever you are, Big Daddy loves you!!”
-Fabio Sementilli

Rest in Peace, Friend. What an incredible life.