Felix Juliani, “Mr. Wellesley” to generations of residents for his eight decades of civic and volunteer service, died at his home Tuesday, May 23rd. He was 93.
Born in Connecticut in 1912, he moved to Wellesley with his parents, the late Donato and Concetta (Demeo) Juliani in 1924 and lived there the rest of his life. A 1931 graduate of Wellesley High School, he married Nellie P. Pankievich, and they celebrated their 60th anniversary before her death in 1996.
For many years, Mr. Juliani worked for the town, first in the highway department and later as director of the Planning Board, taking courses at night at Wentworth Institute, M.I.T., and Boston University. In 1963 he opened the Felix Juliani Insurance Agency.
But Mr. Juliani’s true vocation was town service. Elected an original Town Meeting Member in 1937 when representative Town Meeting began, he served almost continually for 70 years. He was also a member of the Board of Selectman for 23 years, eight years chair; Planning Board, three years chair; Board of Public Works; Council on Aging (founder); School Accommodations Committee; Teen Advisory Committee (founder of youth center); Transportation Advisory Committee; and many other boards.
In service organizations, he was president of Wellesley Kiwanis (47-year member), AARP, and the Historical Society; a board member of the Wellesley Community Center, Republican Town Committee, Human Relations Service, American Red Cross, and Chamber of Commerce; Honorary Chair of the World of Wellesley; coach of Little League, Babe Ruth, Legion, and town baseball and softball; and a member of Knights of Columbus and the Italo-American Educational Club (where he organized teaching to help people with naturalization).
On the state level, he was president and honorary life member of the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards, president of the Norfolk County Selectmen Association, chair and 25-year member of the Norfolk County Advisory Board, chair of the March of Dimes, president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and a board member of the MBTA and the 128 Metro West Transportation Council.
A devoted WWII veteran of the Army Air Corps, he was a 50-year member and commander of Wellesley American legion Post #72, charter member and commander of the Wellesley Memorial Chapter #86 of the D.A.V., president of the Wellesley Veterans Council, and a member of many committees, including the War Memorial Scholarship. He also chaired the Legion’s Senior Citizen Thanksgiving dinner for more than 30 years, and annually gave the town’s Memorial Day address.
A passionate advocate for Mass Bay Community College who helped bring the institution to town, Mr. Juliani was its Board of Trustees’ first Chairman and remained a trustee for nearly 30 years, retiring as Chairman Emeritus. He received its first Service Award, and the college named the Juliani Art Gallery in his honor.
He also received the town’s Distinguished Service Award, the Boy Scouts’ Good Scout Award, Rotary’s Service Above Self Award, the Legion’s Gold Recipient Service Award, and was Grand Marshal for the town’s parade.
Mr. Juliani is survived by his children, Mary J. and her husband Gregory Montalbano of Hopkinton, Philip M. and his wife Diane of Wellesley, and Daniel B. and his wife Kenna also of Wellesley; his sisters Lucy Hansford of Wellesley and Elizabeth Sheats of Wayland; his companion Lillian DeLorie of Wellesley; ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, S. Daniel and Nicholas W. Juliani.
A funeral will be held from George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. (Rt.16) Wellesley, Saturday, May 27 at 9:00 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Paul Church, 502 Washington St., at 10:00 AM. Visiting hours will be Thursday and Friday, 3-5 and 7-9 PM. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley.
Donations in Mr. Juliani's memory may be made to the Wellesley War Memorial Scholarship. Checks should be payable to Town of Wellesley, with a note referencing the scholarship Fund, and sent to Wellesley Town Hall, Selectmen's office, 525 Washington St., Wellesley 02482.