Joseph M. Zdanovich

Joseph M. Zdanovich, 101, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at The Woodlands at Pleasant Bay. He was a longtime resident of Brewster after having lived and raised a large family in Brookline, MA. He was born in the West End of Boston, on January 18, 1924, the youngest of 3 children, to Anna and Makary Zdanovich.

Formerly a student, with the nickname “Whitey” at St Joseph’s in the West End, he went on to study welding at Boston Trade High School, graduating in 1942. After working a short period, he joined the Marine Corps and served proudly from 1943 to 1946, in the South Pacific Theatre. Thanks to the GI Bill, Joe attended Newman Preparatory School in Boston, before being accepted to Boston College (Class of ‘52), a place that remained dear to him. After graduating, Joe taught the art of welding and metallurgy, mainly at Boston Trade High School, but also at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and Wentworth Institute, fondly known as “Mr. Z. “

Joe met his beloved wife, Mary Lou, of Brookline, when her brother, Joseph, a BC classmate, brought him to their home for a visit. Despite their marriage taking place during Hurricane Edna, in 1954, they remained happily married for 67 years, raising their 8 children in Brookline, before retiring to Brewster in 2000.

Joe, along with his wife, were involved in many social groups in Brewster and were Parishioners of Our Lady of the Cape, where they made many friends. They both loved to socialize, and always remained curious about other cultures, traveling around America, Europe, Japan and Russia.

Joseph, was an excellent cook, and was well known for his Russian meatballs recipe, Cheese Cake and being a culinary genius with chicken. He especially loved hosting Thanksgiving and Russian Easter meals, as they were both opportunities to gather, socialize, and feed his family and friends. He always had numerous pet cats, whom he adored. He also loved the outdoors, camping and hiking, Russian Orthodox choral music, reading, and drinking numerous cups of tea.

Joe is predeceased by his wife Mary Lou, daughter Tanya, son-in-law Steven Lynnworth, his mother Anna and father Makary, and his sisters Helen and Sophie.

He is survived by his children, Michael and wife Akemi, Serge, Darcy Aronson and her husband Alan, Nadine (wife of the late Steven Lynnworth), Alicia Cappello and her husband Michael, Victoria and her husband Ronald Gochakowski, and Alexandra Farran and her husband Peter. He also leaves 12 grandchildren, Oliver, Sofia, Alex, Andrew, Beatrice, Emily, Michael jr, Benjamin, Nicholas, Kimberly, Joseph, and Lucy. He also leaves three great-grandchildren.

A Wake will be held on September 2nd, between 4 and 6pm at Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans. The funeral will take place at Our Lady of the Cape Church in Brewster on Wednesday, September 3rd, at 10am. Burial will be held privately at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA.