Joseph J. Berlandi of Barnstable, MA passed away peacefully on September 17, 2025 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, MA. His wife of 57 years, Susan Saviteer Berlandi, and the couple’s three children and their families were with him. He was 86 years old.

Joseph, a native to the West End of Boston, was born on April 30, 1939 to Mildred (Ardolino) and Joseph Berlandi and was raised with his two siblings, Barbara and Tony. In the 1950s they moved to Roslindale. Mr. Berlandi graduated from Roslindale High School in 1956, Providence College in 1960 and Suffolk University Law School in 1966.

In 1967, Mr. Berlandi met his future wife, Susan, and the two were married in 1968, buying their first home in Westwood, MA before relocating to Chestnut Hill and later to Weston, Natick, and eventually Barnstable. Wherever they called home, the Berlandis relished hosting family gatherings. These were festive affairs, made even more enjoyable due to Joe’s appreciation for Italian food, singing and cigars. A man of great principle, he was always able to discuss the most sensitive topics with diplomacy, thoughtfulness, and humor, traits that no doubt served him well in his legal career.

His love for community and society always led him into spaces that created meaningful change. Still practicing law at the time of his death, Mr. Berlandi’s legal career spanned nearly six decades, specializing in corporate law, business law, construction law, and real estate transactions. A large portion of his career was spent in service of the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Mr. Berlandi was an active supporter of the Barnstable Historical Society and was instrumental in establishing the Barnstable Village Association (serving as its president from its inception in 2014 to late 2020) and the Barnstable Village Business Association, which established the Barnstable Village Long Range Planning Corporation (where he served as chairman). Though Mr. Berlandi resigned from the village association’s board of directors after shepherding these organizations through the Covid pandemic, the community still benefits from the blueprint he helped put in place.

Throughout his career, as he did his entire life, Mr. Berlandi relied on his innate inquisitiveness, always asking questions, always open to conversation, always making those he engaged feel as if they were the most important person in the room. He was an avid reader, particularly of books discussing American and world history.

His kind eyes always sparkled with warmth, and his playful grin hid both a brilliant legal mind and a deep devotion to his family. The lifelong Massachusetts resident knew how to have fun, but also knew that the world, and his work, often required a more serious approach. He excelled at both, as he was equally comfortable during a spirited match on the tennis courts or a golf course. He embraced life in every aspect.

The crowning success of his life was building a loving family, whose legacy will endure for generations. His life was marked by an unwavering commitment to those he loved. He was a devoted spectator at every sporting event of his three children, and often a coach of their childhood teams. For his six beloved grandchildren, he was always their “Bumpa”, and loved them more than life itself, just as they loved him.

Mr. Berlandi is survived by his wife, Susan Saviteer Berlandi, originally of West Hartford, CT; daughter, Kathryn Ann (Berlandi) Zinn and her husband, Robert Zinn, and their daughters, Emma and Olivia, of Bolton, MA.; son Brian Lawrence Berlandi and his wife, Katheryn (Allen) Berlandi and their three children, Amelia, Eloise, and John, of Pawling, NY; son Kevin Joseph Berlandi and his wife, Stephanie Berlandi, and their daughter, Isabella Berlandi, of Playa Vista, CA; a sister Barbara Santosuosso of Plymouth, MA and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mr. Berlandi’s memory to the Barnstable Historical Society. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at The Brewster Baptist Church, 1848 Main Street (Route 6A), Brewster, MA 02631, with a reception to follow.

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