Obituary for Julian James D'Agostine Jr.
Julian James D’Agostine, Jr.
March 30, 1930- October 30, 2018
“A storied life that spanned over 88 years, but his experiences equate to many lifetimes.”
Julian was born an only child to Irish-Italian parents in the Oak Square section of Brighton where he struggled to fit in due to his size and mixed ethnicity. It wasn’t until high school at St. Mary’s in Waltham, Massachusetts that he began to realize he was intelligent. Against his father’s wishes, he chose to attend college over working with his family laying curbs. Julian worked his way through college and law school by managing construction jobs and being a sparring partner in local boxing gyms. His perseverance was recognized as he graduated in 1953 from Boston College Law School at the top of his class.
Upon graduation, he received a direct commission from the US Army as a First Lieutenant with the Judge Advocate General Corps. Over the next three years, he was promoted to Captain and served as counsel in the Korean War Treason Trials. This is where he perfected his litigation skills.
Julian furthered his education by earning an M.A. degree in Economics from Boston College in 1962, while also building his first Law Practice in Acton, D’Agostine & Kadison, which later would become D’Agostine, Levine, Parra & Netburn. At the growing firm in Acton he developed his niche as a land use and real estate attorney. Aside from his strong commitment to his clients, Julian lectured and wrote extensively on land use laws, was a drafter of the Massachusetts Subdivision Control Law, and was active in numerous bar associations and the Board of Bar Overseers. For a number of years he co-authored the Land Use Section of the Boston College Annual Survey of Law and was President of the Real Estate Bar Association. Julian’s intellectual strengths, along with a rare combination of experience from working in construction, serving as trial counsel advocate in the JAG, and being a leader of the conveyancing bar, made him uniquely qualified to become one of the first and foremost land use litigators in Massachusetts.
In his mid-thirties, Julian decided to take his young family to Davos, Switzerland to live for one year. He commuted between two continents while practicing law, was President of the Acton Lions Club, and further achieved what he perceived as a pressing community need by building a skating rink. Julian founded Nashoba Valley Olympia in Boxborough in 1966. This facility has developed Olympic and NHL hockey and figure skaters over the last 50 years, but more importantly has provided skating programs to tens of thousands of families in the Acton-Boxborough community.
Julian’s energy and dreams brought him back to Boston to continue to make his mark in the legal community. In 1979, Julian was a founding partner of the Boston law firm of Davis, Malm and D’Agostine. He was much more than a mentor and teacher to the attorneys within both of his law firms, as he redefined what it meant to be a real estate lawyer: expanding beyond title and conveyancing into real estate development, environmental permitting and land use litigation.
“Julian didn’t tolerate slackers, and he taught me and other members of our firm to fight hard but fairly for our clients,” said Michael Malm, one of Julian’s fellow founding partners. “At the same time he never allowed us to forget where we came from, lose our sense of humor, or fall into the trap of self -importance. Even after he retired, he would often call to make sure the firm was living up to his standards and to coach us from the stands. He was a dear friend and an exceptional colleague. His example and teachings will always be with us.”
One noted teaching was Julian’s notorious ability to devise the “work around” to a perplexing problem. He balanced his irascibility with his wit and charm. Another colleague recalled his charismatic and commanding presence by simply saying: “The world is a less colorful place now that Julian is gone.”
He was a force of nature in both mind and body. He loved boxing, fishing, hunting, and playing hockey. But Julian’s real passions were his family, Boston College Athletics, and skiing—not always in that order.
As a child, Julian would sneak into Boston College football, basketball, and hockey games because he couldn’t afford to purchase a ticket. Sixty years later, his name was emblazoned in the foyer in Conte Forum. Julian funded two Athletic Scholarships for Boston College student athletes, and was a founding member of one of BC’s first giving societies, Fides. His presence will certainly be missed at home BC Football games.
Julian was fiercely devoted to his family and gave great attention to passing on life lessons to his children and grandchildren. He taught all of his seven children how to ski, the importance of a good education, hard work, the art of working a buffet table, and where to find Locatelli Pecorino cheese.
Skiing and travel were his greatest joys, and one legacy his children and grandchildren hope to continue.
Julian leaves his seven children, James D’Agostine of Boxborough MA, Amy Bicchieri (Chip) of Sterling, MA, Lisa Coté (Buddy) of North Attleborough, MA, Jeffrey D’Agostine (Leigh) of Boxborough, MA, Andrew D’Agostine (Diana) of Amesbury, MA, Adam D’Agostine (Katie) of Brooklyn, NY, and Rebecca D’Agostine (Teresa) of Santa Fe, NM and eight grandchildren, Margaux, Hannah, Annika, Jonathan, Eliza, Aidan, Cole, and Mackie.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Julian’s memory to the Waterville Valley Adaptive Ski Program, PO Box 505 Waterville Valley, NH 03215 or to the West End House Boys and Girls Club, Attn: Rudy Ash 105 Allston Street Allston, MA 02134.
March 30, 1930- October 30, 2018
“A storied life that spanned over 88 years, but his experiences equate to many lifetimes.”
Julian was born an only child to Irish-Italian parents in the Oak Square section of Brighton where he struggled to fit in due to his size and mixed ethnicity. It wasn’t until high school at St. Mary’s in Waltham, Massachusetts that he began to realize he was intelligent. Against his father’s wishes, he chose to attend college over working with his family laying curbs. Julian worked his way through college and law school by managing construction jobs and being a sparring partner in local boxing gyms. His perseverance was recognized as he graduated in 1953 from Boston College Law School at the top of his class.
Upon graduation, he received a direct commission from the US Army as a First Lieutenant with the Judge Advocate General Corps. Over the next three years, he was promoted to Captain and served as counsel in the Korean War Treason Trials. This is where he perfected his litigation skills.
Julian furthered his education by earning an M.A. degree in Economics from Boston College in 1962, while also building his first Law Practice in Acton, D’Agostine & Kadison, which later would become D’Agostine, Levine, Parra & Netburn. At the growing firm in Acton he developed his niche as a land use and real estate attorney. Aside from his strong commitment to his clients, Julian lectured and wrote extensively on land use laws, was a drafter of the Massachusetts Subdivision Control Law, and was active in numerous bar associations and the Board of Bar Overseers. For a number of years he co-authored the Land Use Section of the Boston College Annual Survey of Law and was President of the Real Estate Bar Association. Julian’s intellectual strengths, along with a rare combination of experience from working in construction, serving as trial counsel advocate in the JAG, and being a leader of the conveyancing bar, made him uniquely qualified to become one of the first and foremost land use litigators in Massachusetts.
In his mid-thirties, Julian decided to take his young family to Davos, Switzerland to live for one year. He commuted between two continents while practicing law, was President of the Acton Lions Club, and further achieved what he perceived as a pressing community need by building a skating rink. Julian founded Nashoba Valley Olympia in Boxborough in 1966. This facility has developed Olympic and NHL hockey and figure skaters over the last 50 years, but more importantly has provided skating programs to tens of thousands of families in the Acton-Boxborough community.
Julian’s energy and dreams brought him back to Boston to continue to make his mark in the legal community. In 1979, Julian was a founding partner of the Boston law firm of Davis, Malm and D’Agostine. He was much more than a mentor and teacher to the attorneys within both of his law firms, as he redefined what it meant to be a real estate lawyer: expanding beyond title and conveyancing into real estate development, environmental permitting and land use litigation.
“Julian didn’t tolerate slackers, and he taught me and other members of our firm to fight hard but fairly for our clients,” said Michael Malm, one of Julian’s fellow founding partners. “At the same time he never allowed us to forget where we came from, lose our sense of humor, or fall into the trap of self -importance. Even after he retired, he would often call to make sure the firm was living up to his standards and to coach us from the stands. He was a dear friend and an exceptional colleague. His example and teachings will always be with us.”
One noted teaching was Julian’s notorious ability to devise the “work around” to a perplexing problem. He balanced his irascibility with his wit and charm. Another colleague recalled his charismatic and commanding presence by simply saying: “The world is a less colorful place now that Julian is gone.”
He was a force of nature in both mind and body. He loved boxing, fishing, hunting, and playing hockey. But Julian’s real passions were his family, Boston College Athletics, and skiing—not always in that order.
As a child, Julian would sneak into Boston College football, basketball, and hockey games because he couldn’t afford to purchase a ticket. Sixty years later, his name was emblazoned in the foyer in Conte Forum. Julian funded two Athletic Scholarships for Boston College student athletes, and was a founding member of one of BC’s first giving societies, Fides. His presence will certainly be missed at home BC Football games.
Julian was fiercely devoted to his family and gave great attention to passing on life lessons to his children and grandchildren. He taught all of his seven children how to ski, the importance of a good education, hard work, the art of working a buffet table, and where to find Locatelli Pecorino cheese.
Skiing and travel were his greatest joys, and one legacy his children and grandchildren hope to continue.
Julian leaves his seven children, James D’Agostine of Boxborough MA, Amy Bicchieri (Chip) of Sterling, MA, Lisa Coté (Buddy) of North Attleborough, MA, Jeffrey D’Agostine (Leigh) of Boxborough, MA, Andrew D’Agostine (Diana) of Amesbury, MA, Adam D’Agostine (Katie) of Brooklyn, NY, and Rebecca D’Agostine (Teresa) of Santa Fe, NM and eight grandchildren, Margaux, Hannah, Annika, Jonathan, Eliza, Aidan, Cole, and Mackie.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Julian’s memory to the Waterville Valley Adaptive Ski Program, PO Box 505 Waterville Valley, NH 03215 or to the West End House Boys and Girls Club, Attn: Rudy Ash 105 Allston Street Allston, MA 02134.