Bob Aiello

Lifelong commitment
to the community he serves

It was April 13, 1948 and Bob entered the world, Robert Thomas Aiello, nine pounds ten ounces, born to Michael and Susan Aiello.

He was delivered in Saugerties by Dr. Lestor Sonking for one hundred dollars. Not a bad deal considering 59 years later he still is in working order. He came with no rebate or warranty but an installment plan was available and utilized.
Bob grew up in Glasco, a small town on the Hudson River that boasted two stores where root-beer barrels cost a penny and a loaf of bread about fifteen cents. The average annual income was three thousand dollars and a new Ford, before making the deal, cost about fifteen hundred, but his family still couldn’t afford one. He came from a hard working family, carrying that ethic his whole life. His family has roots in Saugerties that go back 100 years, having come from Italy in the late 1800’s.

After graduating from Saugerties High School in 1966, Bob attended Ulster County Community College before serving in the U.S. Army Reserve. He received an honorable discharge in 1973.

Being a people person, Bob went to school and became a licensed haircutter in 1969 and still continues with his trade.
Bob also attended Empire State College and holds degrees in Business Management and Human Services. He owned and operated several hair salons and was Vice-President of Columbia Beauty Supplies, as well as owner of The Body Garden and wholesale-retail perfumery. His clients ranged from people like John Sebastian and Walt Gibson, the famous magician, to Academy Award winning Best Actresses, in addition to famous authors and musicians.

Bob is finishing his sixth term in the Ulster County Legislature and is known as an independent “out of the box” thinker. He is a devoted public servant, has a genuine concern for people and is always available to those he serves. “I feel good when I can help someone,” is Aiello’s mantra.

During his tenure, Bob has done things like procuring a bank to come to Saugerties, to preventing a possible SARS outbreak by making a quick and sensible decision in securing work-from-home time for four employees returning from an infected part of China during the middle of the Asian epidemic.
Bob is a member of the Empire State College Alumni Association, Patients Have Rights in Spring Valley New York and the Rudolph Steiner Fellowship Foundation and enjoys writing and listening to jazz and classical music.

He lives in Barclay Heights with his wife Christine and daughter, Kara.