Obituary of Angelo M. "Sonny" Morandi

Angelo M. “Sonny” Morandi owner of one of the oldest businesses in Burlington, Morandi’s Barber Shop, passed away peacefully in his home with all his family at his bedside on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.  He was 90 years old.  Sonny was born in Woburn the son of Rosalie (Carbone) and Italian immigrant Joseph Morandi.  He grew up and was educated in Burlington and Woburn.  It was a lot simpler time back then.  He worked as a kid on the many farms in Burlington and at his uncle’s convenience store, Carbone’s Super Market, located on Winn Street in Burlington.   By the age of 16, he was working after school at the First National Super Market in Winchester.  That is where he met the Love of His Life & His Future Wife, Genevieve “Jen” Zaffina.  He married his childhood sweetheart in February of 1953 and entered the military the next month.  So, their first year of marriage was spent living in Germany as part of the Army Occupation Forces during the Korean War.  He was a private First Class and was a member of the “Big Red 1”, Company 1 of the 26^th Infantry Regiment.  Following his military service, he worked as a truck driver for a time before getting his barber’s license and going to work with his dad at his shop on Montvale Ave in Woburn.  It was tight quarters there so in 1960 he started his own shop, Morandi’s Barber Shop, on the corner of Winn St. and Mountain Road in Burlington.  Sonny and the barber shop have been a fixture in the community ever since.  He was working regularly until the age of 88. He cut some families hair for 4 or 5 generations.  He knew all of your family, where you worked, was a confidant, could tell a great story or joke, and to top it off gave you a great haircut.  During his years as a barber at some point he also became a real estate developer. On the site of his barber shop and a neighboring property he developed the Jenson Building which housed his barbershop and 2 stories of rental property.  It is still one of the nicest commercial properties in the Winnmere section of Burlington.  He did all the work without a lawyer or general contractor, because of his confidence, organizational skills, ability to handle himself anywhere and the countless number of contacts and resources who sat in his barber chair.  Not bad for a kid who started out working on a farm and no college education.

Sonny embraced life and would do anything for his family.  He was big on keeping traditions and working on his “Bucket List”. His home was the gathering spot for the holidays and his backyard and pool area were the summer gathering spots for all his family and friends.  His Christmas Village was a culmination of decades of collecting special and meaningful pieces and filled an entire room.  He loved adventures, whether it was a month-long road trip with all his kids to California and back to hang gliding at age 80 or skydiving at the age of 86.  He was a member of a scuba diving club for many years, South End Italian Club, American Legion, and past member of the Knights of Columbus.  Hunting was one of his biggest passions.  He hunted with his son, grandsons, and friends all over the United States.  His last hunting trip was August 28, 2021 up in Maine.  At the age of 90, he was able to score a 12-Point Red Stag Deer.  He and Jen traveled extensively including all of Europe, Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, and other destinations that piqued his interest.  He could engage in a conversation with almost anyone anywhere in the world.  His biggest adventure was that of his family.  He and his beloved wife, Jen, shared 68 wonderful years together.  He was a strong and supportive father who shared his wisdom but was always acceptable to change and differing viewpoints.  He was the fun and teasing Papa and Papa Randi to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He loved them all unconditionally and made each one feel like they were his favorite.  Angelo “Sonny” Morandi was a self-made man who always remembered his roots and friends.  He was so proud of all his family and his passing leaves them with heavy hearts and a lifetime of wonderful memories filled with love and laughter.  He will be missed, but never forgotten.

Sonny was the beloved husband of Genevieve “Jen” (Zaffina) Morandi of Winchester.  He was the loving father of Elizabeth “Betty” Bonish & her husband Michael of Estero, FL, Deborah LaFlamme of Woburn & her late husband Robert, Joseph Morandi of Burlington, Cheryl Morandi of Attleboro, and Katherine Doherty & her husband Brian of Woburn. He was the brother of Marianne Hall of Del Ray Beach, FL and Katherine Giglio of NC. He was the proud grandfather of Michael & Mark Bonish, Christina Makinen, Robert & Joseph LaFlamme, Jaqueline Duren, Jennifer Seaver, Stephen & Brittney Ort, and Brianna & Dillan Doherty.   He was the great grandfather of Ava, Sydney, & Taylor Makinen, Avery & Morgan Bonish, Capri Duren, and Lincoln & Amelia Dorrance.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Sunday, Dec. 5 from 2-6 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Monday, Dec. 6 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Charles Church, www.sccwoburn.org, 280 Main St., Woburn, at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial in Calvary Cemetery, Winchester. In lieu of flowers donations in Sonny’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital, www.StJude.org  The family requests that masks be worn at the wake and funeral mass.