For these Long Island seniors, tattoos are far from taboo

Sometimes getting a tattoo isn’t about rebellion, it’s about remembrance — a way to memorialize a spouse, child or even a beloved pet. For others, these permanent works of body art symbolize rebirth, triumph and hope.

Just 13% of adults 65 and older have tattoos, compared with 41% of those 30 and younger, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center study. Still, plenty of older Long Islanders are finding themselves in a tattoo artist’s chair for the first time looking for ink that’s meaningful to them or to record their journeys.

“Over the past few years I’ve seen more and more older folk coming in for tattoos, so it’s no longer out of the norm,” said artist Summer Ejnes of Three Kings Tattoo in Merrick, who last year inked 88-year-old Angelo Scordato. “Some already have tattoos that carry a lot of history, but for most, it’s their first tattoo, which is really special, being that tattoos were taboo for a great part of their lives.”

There are some considerations for older adults, however. Aging skin is thinner, which can distort the way the tattoo looks, and there is greater risk of infection during healing, said Northwell Health dermatologist Raman Madan. Older adults should consider what medications they are on before getting a tattoo — blood thinners, for example, increase the risk of bleeding. It’s best to check with a doctor. “I advise they keep it protected, and also keep it moist by applying Aquaphor or Vaseline,” Madan said. “Just be extra vigilant.”

Those interviewed said they were surprised by how little they hurt, although individual results will certainly vary. "It was actually very relaxing, not painful at all,” said Russell Silver, 61. “It was a great experience."

Here are a few Long Islanders who got their first ink when they were 50 or older. All are thrilled with their decision, with most either getting another one or planning to do so soon. And for some, like Geetha Narasimhan, 70, a delicious feeling of rebelliousness can slip in as well. 

Angelo Scordato, 88, Valley Stream

Age when he got his first tattoo: 87

Tattoo: A heart with his late wife Fran’s name

Tattoo parlor: Summer Ejnes at Three Kings Tattoo in Merrick

It took Angelo Scordato 87 years to brand his arm. The inspiration? The loss of his wife of almost 62 years, Fran. She was the love of his life, he said, and more than "perfect in every way."

“Fran was an angel,” he said. “We never had a fight. She took care of everyone.”

She was beautiful, too, working as a model when she was a teenager, he said.

Scordato’s granddaughter Nicole Woessner, 25, was the one who suggested he get a tattoo, and Scordato surprised even himself when he said, “Let’s do it.”

“In my wildest dreams would I ever imagine getting a tattoo,” Scordato said. “But it was the perfect way to honor my wife, and to pay tribute to her.”

Woessner, an artist, designed the tattoo — Roman numerals of the couple’s wedding date and Fran’s name in her handwriting, which Nicole had replicated from her signature. Scordato said he put it on his right arm because they were “right” for each other.

Karen Woessner, Scordato’s daughter, also wanted to commemorate her mom, and got her first tattoo at age 59. Her insignia is 11/11, the birthday she shares with her mother.

Scordato is already considering another tattoo, this time of a can of Coke and a Hershey’s Kiss — two of his late wife’s favorite treats.

“This is a love story,” he said. “We had a beautiful life together, and I want to remember her always.”

Russell Silver, 61, North Bellmore

Age when he got his first tattoo: 59

Tattoo: His dog Rocky, on his forearm

Tattoo parlor: Tess George Tattoos, Lindenhurst

For the Silver family, getting tattoos was a family affair. Their hearts were broken when their 17-year-old Lhasa-poo crossed the rainbow bridge — and it was a joint decision to each get a tattoo to memorialize their beloved Rocky.

“I couldn’t function for a couple of weeks,” said Russell Silver, a mortgage loan officer. “I couldn’t go to work, I couldn’t do anything. We were all devastated. He was just the greatest dog.”

Rocky came into their lives when Silver’s father had been sick with cancer, and Silver was struggling to deal with his dad’s illness and eventual passing, he said.

“When Rocky came to us he brought happiness,” Silver said. “Many people don’t realize how special a dog can be to you and your family.”

Each family member chose a different variation of Rocky art. For Silver, the pooch is depicted on his forearm, where he can easily see it.

“We all went together. My son got Rocky’s name inside his arm, my wife got a heart with the letter “R” next to it, and so on,” said Silver. “You know, when people get tattoos when they’re younger, it’s usually because it looks cool. When you get them when you’re older, it’s because it means something to you.”

Silver said it was a great experience and very relaxing, so much so that he’s already contemplating the next one.

Geetha Narasimhan, 70, Rockville Centre

Age when she got her first tattoo: 68

Tattoo: The first is on her chest, a small lotus with an Om above it. The second, an Unalome, a sacred symbol in Buddhism and Hinduism, is on her back.

Tattoo artist: Tiffany Collins at Da Vinci Tattoo in Wantagh

Geetha Narasimhan, a retired physical and yoga therapist, was raised in India and came to the United States when she was 24. Always considering herself slightly unconventional, she summoned her inherent bravado at 68 when she got her first tattoo.

“I had always wanted my nose pierced,” Narasimhan said. “My mother was against it. I always liked the thought of being different. I am sort of a rebel.”

That rebel did finally get her nose pierced when she was 56, and a little over a decade later, she resolved to get a tattoo. That decision took time, she said, the notion creeping up on her over the years. But she always knew that if she were to get one, it would have to be something of consequence.

Her first tattoo was a lotus flower, topped with an Om symbol representing consciousness and the primordial sound of creation. 

“I am a Hindu, and the lotus is meaningful because it represents the struggle of starting in a new country and the idea that you can grow even in difficult situations,” Narasimhan said. “Om reminds me to find a stillness from within. In short, lotus is resilience and Om is stillness.”

The decision to get another one was immediate — she said she was not done telling her story.

“My Unalome represents my life journey — the twists, the lessons, the strength I built along the way,” Narasimhan said. “It reminds me that growth isn’t linear, but every step has led me to greater clarity and peace.”

Carol Haugaard, 61, Manorville

Age when she got her first tattoo: 61

Tattoo: A gecko, on her arm

Tattoo artist/place name: Wolf House Tattoo, Ridge

Leaving her lifelong career as a nurse earlier than she had planned wasn’t easy for Carol Haugaard. It left her feeling empty, depressed and not great about herself, she said. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Haugaard said she pulled up her bootstraps and decided she needed a change. She started exercising, took tai chi classes and lost some weight, all leading her to a newfound happiness.

Haugaard wanted to celebrate her victory, and decided to mark her rebirth in ink. “A tattoo was the finishing touch,” she said.

She chose a gecko as her insignia, a spirit animal — and her favorite creature  — that stood for regeneration and renewal.

“Getting a tattoo was so liberating,” she said. “The gecko loses their tail, and grows a new one. Retirement was all about reinventing myself. And the gecko represents just that.”

Haugaard now carries the message of hope on her arm, where she can see it every day. She’s already contemplating her next one, which isn’t an “if” but a “when.”

“It’s a reminder of who I am and who I want to be," she said.

Dionne "CanDee" Dixon-Allen, 54, Oceanside

Age when she got her first tattoo: 52

Tattoo: A phoenix

Tattoo artist: Markese Zanders, Brooklyn

For Dionne "CanDee" Dixon-Allen, the mythical phoenix embodies her own personal resurrection after being stricken with crippling depression in recent years.

“The phoenix represents me starting anew and rising from the ashes,” she said. “It’s about having a new lease on life and discovering a new me.”

Dixon-Allen, an occupational therapist, decided the ideal way to embrace her rebirth was a lasting testimonial in the form of a tattoo. She said when she earned a master's degree in occupational therapy from Columbia University in 2004, she evoked a phoenix metaphor in her graduation speech.

Dixon-Allen has gotten more tattoos since —  including a yellow rose for her grandmother, a ribbon decorated with her son’s name and yet another phoenix. She is soaring, she said, and feels especially empowered by her tattoos.

"The phoenix is my own badge of triumph," she said.