Anton Paul Janulis died suddenly of an unknown cause on Friday, January 30, 2026, in Watertown, Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his sister, Alana Janulis; his father, Bronislaus Janulis; and his mother, Melanie Janulis. He leaves behind his six-year-old son, Elio Janulis; Elio’s mother, Antonella D’Eramo of Watertown, and family; his aunt, Susan Selby, and family of Fox Lake, Illinois; his stepmother, Susan Visser and sisters, Serena Visser and Maya Janulis, and their families in South Bend, Indiana; and his uncle, Alex Janulis, and family in Kansas and Colorado.
Anton was born in Danville, Illinois, on December 21, 1975. He grew up in Chicago, where he made friends he still held dear. In his youth, he enjoyed scouting and later bicycle racing at the local velodrome. He completed high school at Interlochen Arts Academy then studied English and philosophy at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Later, he attended a graduate writing program at the University of Florida in Gainesville. From 2004 to 2006, he served as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language as a Peace Corps volunteer in Pereyaslav, Ukraine.
In 2010, he came to the Boston area to pursue a master’s degree in philosophy at Suffolk University, where he also taught philosophy as an adjunct professor for several years. For the past 16 years, Anton worked as a bicycle mechanic at Belmont Wheelworks. He was keen on cycling and bicycles and enjoyed learning and talking about classic bike makers and styles. Skilled with his hands, he used various bicycles he had built or remodeled as transportation, including the cargo bicycle he used to take his son on many adventures. He enjoyed regular long rides to take in the natural beauty of the Greater Boston area.
Anton had a passion for literature and ideas. He was dedicated to reading and writing about philosophy, politics, history, and literature. He had a daily habit of writing and reflecting and almost always had a book with him. His interest in history came to life through his hobby of building model airplanes for himself and his son. His intellect was extraordinary, marked by wide-ranging reading and knowledge, meticulous writing skills, and the most profound vocabulary.
Anton’s greatest and proudest role was father of his little boy, Elio. He parented with the utmost love and devotion, fostering every interest Elio showed. He introduced him to many different topics and places to learn and play. He had endless patience for marathon playground visits, imaginative play, building and drawing, reading past bedtime, and cuddling to rewatch favorite movies together. Elio has vast background knowledge, a knack for books and words, a gentle way of being, and a love for pizza and tacos, thanks to his father.
He will be deeply missed by many family, friends and coworkers.
Friends and family will gather in Anton's memory on Friday, March 13 at 9:30am in Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington St, Newton. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30am. After Mass, his ashes will be buried at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Watertown.