Grief after a tragedy always lingers, but its power can somehow transition and transform those affected and other lives for the good.

That is what Jason Alexander and his brothers, James Hall Jr. and Derrick Miller, decided to do after Alexander’s son Shaheem, a William Floyd graduate and master barber, died by suicide. The Shaheem BlueDaBarber363 Foundation INC nonprofit was formed.

Through the foundation, the three men are raising money for barber kits for William Floyd students starting out in their careers. And they are also raising men’s mental health awareness with a monthly presence at the BHEP Alliance on Montauk Highway in North Bellport, encouraging those with issues to come and talk. They’ve rented space there and are holding an upcoming Mental Health Awareness Night on June 18 from 6 to 8 p.m.

That these men, Bellport High School graduates, who all mentored and watched Shaheem grow up, showed such grace after the suicide speaks to their decency and determination.

“Three years ago, my nephew committed suicide at Smith Point Beach on Good Friday,” said Hall, who works for the Town of Brookhaven. Hall was off that day and was called by Alexander, a CDO and Uber driver, who was delivering propane, to check on his son. He knew something was wrong.”

Miller drove down while police raced past. He was allowed to look in the car after police taped the area. What he saw was Shaheem slumped over in his car. Alexander was called and followed shortly after. Shaheem was 31.

“We started the foundation in 2024 in October,” said Alexander. “Shaheem worked at Imperial Kutt Kreators Barbershop in North Bellport.

The official paperwork for the nonprofit came through in December 2024. “But we formed it a year earlier and did a virtual Double Good Popcorn fundraiser, and we raised enough money for three barbering kits,” Alexander said.

“Each kit can range from $300 to $600, and we want to emphasize that they are brand new. For William Floyd kids, it’s a focus of where Shaheem graduated from. He was helping some of the kids and would go to the BOCES program to get them prepared for their tests.”

They created a beautiful maritime and barber insignia. “Shaheem was in the Navy Reserves,” explained Alexander.

William Floyd public information director James Montaldo said in an email that Shaheen graduated in 2009.

According to Robert Felicetta, assistant principal for William Floyd High School’s Freshman Academy and Career and  Technology Education district site coordinator, Shaheem was a mentor to the Suffolk BOCES program; William Floyd didn’t have the CTE program at the time he attended William Floyd.

“Barbering was his only aspiration since he was 14,” said WF Barbering Academy instructor Cara Cliffe. “He had even transformed a mini bus into a mini barber shop during COVID.”

Shaheem wanted to be a barber as a youngster, Alexander said.

Regarding the essay contest for the barbering kits sponsored by Shaheem’s foundation, “They don’t go by based on who’s the most talented,” Cliffe explained. “It’s an essay on ‘How would a kit help you accomplish your goal?’ They chose four essay questions and I hand them over to the students.” 

Felicetta said the barbering program has tripled in size. But also, barber shops have morphed; there are four barber shops for every 1-square-mile area, he said.

“Now it’s not just a hangout, but more a high-end service,” he said.

“You can promote yourself as a brand,” said Cliffe, referring to social media.

William Floyd’s barbering program entails 500 hours over a two-year period, and Cliffe said there’s a lot of requirements. “If they successfully reach their hours, they get their [William Floyd] endorsement; then after 500 hours, they can take a [three-hour] New York State Master Barber test for their license,” Cliffe explained. “We offer the same exam in house to prepare them.”

Felicetta pointed out that the program is getting more and more women. With Cliffe as a female instructor, “it humbles the men and makes them much more employable.” There are currently 750 students in their CTE program.

Shaheem’s father and uncles have taken an additional step. Besides another Men’s Mental Health Awareness Night, the men have been busy sponsoring comedy nights to raise funds for the foundation.

“I was connected with the entertainment industry,” Hall said. “So, we started doing comedy events and did our first comedy night in April at the Pine Grove Inn. It was sold out.

The event raised money for four more barbering kits. “Also, we gave the No. 1 senior a $250 award just last week,” said Hall of woman barber, Jamie A. Gabino, who is opening her own barbershop. She was recognized during William Floyd’s Signing Day.

“All proceeds go to the foundation. Once we became a legitimate 501(c)3, I reached out, and we started to get sponsors,” Hall added.

The next comedy night, “Church People Need to Laugh Too… With Spoken Word,” is Saturday, June 21, at the Pine Grove Inn, 1 First Street, East Patchogue, with King Jeru and Big Bear, at 6:30 p.m. (For information, call 631-627-5282.)

“Our Men’s Mental Health meetings started on Jan. 22 on Shaheem’s 34th birthday; it’s done every month at the BHEP, which Shaheem has a deep association with Mrs. Clarine Boone. Also, Shaheem also knew [BHEP executive director] Fred Combs. We rent a space there for meetings. If someone can’t make a monthly meeting, they can call us and talk,” Alexander said.

“We are actively looking for grief courses and dealing with loss. It’s an ongoing process.”

For more information about the foundation, call: 631-627-5282; email info@shahembluedabarber.com.