Joe ‘Tony’ LaGrotteria
Age: 56
Lives: Elyria
Occupation: Shop manager for Murphy Brothers Auto Body Inc. in Elyria.

I’ve worked at Murphy Brothers Auto Body Inc. since I was a young kid. Murphy Brothers has been here since 1918. We’re one of the oldest businesses in this area that are still doing the same thing in the same building, and we’re not going anywhere.

You go by two first names. How did that come about?

My family called me Tony. They didn’t want to call me Joe because my father was Joe, and I’m Joseph Anthony Jr. They called me Tony, but in seventh grade I didn’t want to be called Tony anymore; I wanted to be called Joe. I went through junior high school, high school, college, the Air Force and working at Ridge Tool as Joe. So half the city knows me as Joe and the other half knows me Tony.

How would you describe your profession?

I guess it would just be considered body-shop manager.

Purchase a print.

Are you mostly on the business and books side, or have you pounded out sheet metal?

Oh yeah, I’ve done it all. I started out sweeping the floors.

What was the most expensive car you’ve ever repaired?

It would have to be that ’57 T-Bird, a restoration we did about 20 years ago.

Do you ever look back on a repaired and freshly painted car and think of it as a work of art?

I’ve always gotten pleasure out of a car that’s been done right.

Your brother, Paul, has told me you dabble in some art project?

Yes, stained glass and jewelry. I did the stained glass for Elyria Catholic High School Chapel. A good friend of mine is Pat Humphrey. He’s the deacon for Elyria Catholic school. He asked me to do that, and I dedicated it to my father, Joseph Sr.

Do you ever recommend waxing a car with Vaseline?

I remember doing that as a young man. That’s what started my career. That was the story: “I waxed a car with Vaseline.” I think my dad tanned my hide after he laughed his head off.

How have cars changed over the years?

Well, I’ve been doing this since I was 10, but not actively working on the cars. The cars have changed tremendously because of the intricacy that’s gone on in the insides. We’ve gone from a simple vehicle for transportation to something that now talks to you. A lot of these changes are not good. The complexity has caused the repairs to become quite technical. You really do have to be educated today to be in this business and understand the way these cars are built. Back in our day, you could tune a car up, but now you have to be a contortionist and a little midget to even get in there. The sheet metal has been thinned out. The complexity of the paint systems has been unbelievable in order to make it more environmentally friendly. Therefore, it’s not as easy to paint as it was 35 years ago. It’s much, much, harder.

Any hobbies?

I enjoy the intricacies of stained glass and jewelry making. I enjoy riding a bike. I’m a cyclist. I enjoy the trails this county has with the scenery out in western Lorain County. And then music is my passion. I live for music.

What would be one of your desert CDs?

Well, if you put me on a desert island, I would take a compilation CD I made of Joe Walsh.

How about your family?

I’ve been married 36 years to Jeannie. Our son Joey works here and carries on the family tradition, and he’s doing unbelievably well. Angela is at Emory University obtaining her doctorate degree.

Chronicle photographer Chuck Humel shines the spotlight on the people of Lorain County each week in “15 minutes.” Know someone worthy of 15 Minutes? Send an chumel@chroniclet.com.

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---