Rio DeGennaro (1940-2014) began his extraordinary tattoo career at just nine years old in 1950, working as a shop helper at Bert Grimm’s on Main Street in Los Angeles, under the guidance of his father, Lou Lewis. He joined Grimm on The Pike in Long Beach in 1957, spending thirteen formative years learning the intricacies of the trade. After extensive travels, DeGennaro opened his own shop, Ace Tattoo, in Tillicum, Washington, in 1983. Later, in 2003, he took the helm of the Oregon School of Tattoo Arts, solidifying his legacy as both a respected artist and an influential educator within the tattoo community.
