James A. Federico — 1920-2013
By Robert D. Dávila, Sacramento Bee
James A. Federico, a barber who built a family business into a well-known chain of Northern California beauty schools, died July 25 of Alzheimer’s disease, his family said. He was 93.
James A. Federico
Mr. Federico spent 41 years as owner and president of Federico College of Hairstyling, which grew to three schools in the Sacramento area and one in South Lake Tahoe. He led the company, which became a top training ground for thousands of students in the cosmetology field, from a Federico’s school at Florin Road and 24th Street.
Mr. Federico was an industry leader in efforts to improve standards for beauty schools. He traveled around the United States as a member of an early national accreditation team. In 1966, he was the first Californian to be elected president of the National Association of Cosmetology Schools.