Obituary: David Windsor made stars shine their best

David Windsor became interested in hair and makeup in one of the most unlikely places: a military base.

While stationed in Morocco as a young airman, Windsor began performing as an unpaid extra in USO shows to entertain the troops. That led to roles in musical theater when he returned home and, eventually, a trip to beauty school.

A unique talent for developing new hair colors, along with a fierce dedication to his clients, made Windsor a pioneer in the beauty industry with celebrities and professional women alike, friends said. Over his illustrious 55-year career, he worked on thespians at the Cricket and Guthrie theaters and television and film stars such as Joan Rivers, Mary Tyler Moore, Liza Minnelli and Gloria Vanderbilt.

Windsor died Feb. 23 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 78.

"He was so extremely talented and helped women truly look their best," said his younger sister, Sherry Windsor — who acted as Windsor's practice model during his stint in beauty school.

"It wasn't about the money, the status, the recognition," she said. "For him, it was really just about helping women."

The commitment to his craft was extraordinary, said Steve Kvasnik, market manager of Sola Salons, where Windsor was a freelance stylist for the past seven years. Windsor worked three days a week well into his illness and never wanted to take a step back, always willing to load on more.

To his many clients, Windsor was as charming as his royal namesake.

David Windsor Ekstrom was born in 1936, the year King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to his brother so he could marry American socialite Wallis Simpson. It was a story Windsor's teenage mother found wildly romantic, so she made Windsor his middle name.

But he liked it so much that, before starting his career, Windsor legally changed it to his last name.

When Sherry Windsor got divorced in 2011, she asked his permission to take the name as well, instead of reverting back to her maiden name of Ekstrom. It was easier to spell and pronounce, she said, "but the real reason I changed it was because I admired him and respected him so much."

A St. Cloud native, Windsor spent his first 10 years in the industry working on theater actors and managing the Young Quinlan department store beauty salon in downtown Minneapolis. He quickly became a local beauty legend and attracted the business of Minneapolis and L.A. newscaster Paul Magers, comedian Bob Hope and actor Vincent Price.

"You can get a haircut any place, but you can't get the right hair color," said longtime friend and fellow hairdresser Mary Jo Carlson, adding that Windsor was one of the few stylists who could work with makeup and wigs, too.

"He was the last of the great hairdressers."

In his free time, Windsor was a talented cook, frequently making salad dressing and other healthful dishes from scratch.

Windsor is also survived by his partner of 41 years, Mel Keller; a brother, Charles Ekstrom; and five nieces and nephews.

A memorial service and a reception were held Saturday at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapel in Edina.