James Berlis Obituary
James "Jimmy" Berlis of Needham passed away at home on April 29th, 2024. Born in Tripoli, Greece June 15, 1938. Son of the late Harilaos and Stamatina Nasopoulos Berlis. Beloved husband of 53 years to Pauline "Polly" Kontos Berlis.
Extremely proud father to son Harry Berlis and his wife Maria of Belmont and loving father to his daughter Tina Berlis Fotopoulos and her husband Steven of Needham .
Brother to Evangelia Macherides and her husband Theodore of Needham and brother to Maria Tsiroyannis of Needham. Brother in law to Mina Davos and her husband the late Vasilios Davos of Chestnut Hill and James and Angelica Kontos of Waltham.
Doting grandfather "Pappou" to Demitri, Eva, Melina, Zoe, Lexi, Demi and Chloe.
We mourn the passing of James "Jimmy" Berlis, a man whose life embodied unwavering dedication, boundless love for his family, and the unwavering pursuit of the American dream.
Born in the tiny village of Agiorgitika, Greece, Jimmy's childhood was marked by hardship. Losing his father at a young age, he shouldered the responsibility of being the eldest son, supporting his widowed mother and sisters. While his heart yearned for the carefree joy of playing soccer, duty called, and he sacrificed his own childhood to ensure theirs.
Driven by an unyielding spirit and hope, Jimmy left his beloved village for a brighter future. Embracing a new life in his uncle's home, he braved unfamiliar surroundings, a different language, and the harshness of cold winters. Yet, his determination was unwavering. He joined the military, honed his work ethic, and nurtured an engineering mindset that would pave the way for his future success.
Through hard work and a genuine passion for service, Jimmy harnessed the "Berlis" brand, fine tuning his customer service skills/mindset in the food industry under its finest - Jimmy's Harborside Restaurant and then onward to Sydney Hill Country Club. He then built upon this foundation, ultimately birthing the "Heritage" restaurant on Moody Street with Tom Nikolopoulos. Even today, it stands as a beloved Waltham landmark, a testament to Jimmy's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to feeding his diners.
But amidst the relentless pursuit of his goals, Jimmy never strayed from his core values. Family remained his guiding principle - found in Pauline "Polly" Berlis his soulmate, his anchor, the love of his life. Together they built a beautiful family, their eldest son, Harilaos "Harry" Berlis, carrying the family torch with pride. Soon after, Stamatina "Tina" Berlis, their cherished and spirited daughter, joined the family, perpetuating the Berlis legacy with his mother's namesake. Over the years, the family grew further, welcoming seven cherished grandchildren.
Jimmy's legacy transcends his achievements. Jimmy was proud to serve in the US Army as he loved America for all the opportunities it gave him. Above all, he was a man defined by strength, drive, perseverance, dedication, empathy, and unwavering devotion. He instilled these values – the cornerstones of the Berlis legacy – in his children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews who he considered as his own: family above all, respect for others, and a determination to achieve the "American" dream.
Jimmy Berlis leaves behind a legacy imprinted in the hearts of his family, friends, and community he enriched with his presence. Jimmy was also one of the many who established the Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church of Roslindale. He served on the church council there for many years. He was also a member of the Taxiarchae Greek Orthodox Church of Watertown, where he married his beloved Polly. Never will we forget his Easter tradition where he opened his door to all cooking his traditional lamb on the spit. The entire neighborhood knew it was Greek Easter! He was the family's compass.
We will forever cherish his memory and the values he so fiercely upheld. May he rest in peace, knowing that his spirit of unwavering love and dedication will continue to inspire the "Berlis" generation to come....
Funeral Service on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at the Taxiarchae Greek Orthodox Church, 25 Bigelow Avenue, Watertown, MA at 11:30AM. Visitation prior to the Service from 10:30AM - 11:30AM at the church. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Capital Fund of The Taxiarchae Archangels Greek Orthodox Church.
Burial at The Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery 670 Baker Street West Roxbury, MA.
