Our family is very sad to announce the passing of Joseph Linguanti. He is survived by his beloved wife Shelley, son Giorgio (Tasha), son James, daughter Carmen (Gavin), and grandchildren Leonardo, Donna, Mary, Caleb and Finn. He is also survived by sisters Joanna, Frances, and Nina (Dennis), numerous nieces and nephews and extended family in Canada and in Europe.
Joe was born in Belgium to Sicilian parents. His family immigrated to Canada and settled in Kitimat, where his mother and father worked hard to make a good life for their six children. There, the children all went to school, played sports, worked, and made lifelong friends. Joe moved to Victoria in the early 1970’s to attend university and earned a degree in Math and Computer Sciences. After completing his degree Joe was offered a job at the Institute of Ocean Sciences where he spent his entire career. He loved his job and the many duties he was assigned, especially latterly where he worked both nationally and internationally. Of course, being Joe, he made friends all along the way and kept in touch with many.
Joe was passionate, opinionated, honourable and loyal. His deep voice, his presence in a room and his strong desire to bring people together will be missed by all who knew him.
A Memorial will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC V8Y 1B4 on Friday, May 15th, 2026, at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Linguanti” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
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Bill Crawford and Angelica Pena
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Humfrey Melling Joe was a congenial colleague and office neighbour of mine at the Institute of Ocean Sciences. His was a friendly welcoming face when I arrived from the east to join the Frozen Sea Research Group almost 50 years ago, and like me and many others, a lifer there. He frequently joined the sometimes rowdy, sometimes argumentative, always entertaining Frozen People, for coffee just down the hall from his office. Joe’s homemade sausage was eagerly awaited at that group’s annual Christmas get-together. As seemingly undernourished nerds who had “grown up” at university with little culinary sophistication, we were not modest about how much delicious sausage we scooped up. Joe’s “amusement” with our outrageous behaviour never seemed to interfere with his generosity, although privately he may have had doubts about our emotional maturity. From time to time, when the frustration of public service employment was getting to him, he would saunter two doors down to my office for a rant-therapy session. I’m not sure which one of us was the therapist and which the client, but we would both part after a while feeling rejuvenated. Joe was prominent among those at IOS who made working there, on balance, a great pleasure, who us reluctant to “move along”. Knowing him has been a valued experience of my life. In sadness, I offer my sympathy on Joe’s passing to Shelley and all his family and friends.
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Lawrence and Mary Slanina To the Linguanti Family,
We were saddened to learn of Joe’s passing. Our thoughts are with all of you during these difficult and sad days.
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Doug Grant Like so many Kitimat folks, my relationship with Joe goes back to high school years. I fondly remember our times together with “the boys” and the sometimes questionable things we would do, all in the name of good fun. I went to BCIT and Joe went to UVic, but this didn’t keep us apart as we were only a ferry trip away. Friends for life, and beyond. Rest in Piece my friend, we shall meet again.
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Mike Foreman Joe was a dear friend. At IOS he was always approachable, happy to help and a great source of knowledge on data management and processing issues. He got along easily with people and was a facilitator, traits that made him a valuable member of the numerous local, national and international committees that he served on in his career. Outside work, I enjoyed his company curling, golfing and for the past several years, having regular Tuesday breakfasts at the Five and Dime in Sidney with Bill, Ken and Willie. Our ramblings on family activities, politics (Joe’s favourites were the state of the BC and federal Liberal parties, and of course Trump), sports (the Canucks, Blue Jays, the latest golf tournament or NFL football game on TV, and the under-achieving Italian national soccer team) were always lively and enjoyable. I will warmly remember his smile and hearty chuckle.
I extend my sincere condolences to Shelley and all his family. He will be missed.
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Brian Schofield I am so sorry Shelley, and to your family to hear of Joe’s passing. I met Joe when I first started working at IOS in the early 1980s. I always enjoyed talking with him, and he showed much interest in the things I did. We also played together on the Mariner’s ball team through work, and he was such a great baseball player. I really have fond memories of Joe, and I am so glad that I knew him. Again, my deepest sympathies to you. I am sorry but I will not be able to attend the Memorial, as I will be away for my work all of that week.
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Roy Hourston I was sorry to hear of Joe’s passing and I offer condolences to the Linguanti family and friends. I worked with Joe at the Institute of Ocean Sciences and always found him friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, thoughtful, and kind. I liked how he would often say, “If you find a problem with the ocean data, let me know.” If there were problems, he wanted to fix them. I ended up assuming his position when he retired and he helped me transition into that role. I regret that I’ll be out of town and will miss his service. He was a great guy.
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Joy Lenton My sincere condolences, Shelley, Giorgio, James, Carmen and your families. May your love as a family support you at this very sad time. Cherish the many memories going forward.
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Carol & Dan Heffernan We are so sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. We enjoyed spending time with Joe making sausages in November, at Canada Day festivities, and every time we got together, because Joe was an enabler of fun and good times. We know he will be sorely missed by his family and his many friends. He was kind and generous and will live on in our memories, like the time during Covid when he showed up at our door bearing a large freshly made sausage as we were not all able to make it together that year. Our thoughts are with Shelley and all the Linguanti family.
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Patricia Kimber Joe’s huge heart always had room for more and more. I feel so lucky to have a place there and he in mine…and it will be so, always. The dearest friend. Love to all his family and friends everywhere who share in this sad time. I am very sorry that I have a previously planned memorial to attend of a close family friend, same day same time. I will miss seeing and meeting the Linguanti clan and all of our mutual friends. I love families and old friends. Sincerely, Patricia Kimber
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Shirley Galloway My heart goes out to you and your family. Just remember he will always hold a spot in your hearts. Big Hugs
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Patrick Cummins Our sincere condolences to Shelley and all the family. Joe was kind, trustworthy and fair-minded. He was a wonderful friend to Diane and I. We are deeply saddened by his passing.
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Howard J. Freeland I expected to write something the moment the obit popped up, but it is so hard to know what to say, Joe had so very many positive features. I chatted with quite a few people who worked with him at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, good humour, pleasant, smart all cropped up as descriptors, but the one descriptor that cropped up time after time again was “integrity”. As a one-time manager I occasionally had to convince him of something, but then he was on your side. An it was essential always to have Joe Linguanti on your side. He was a good man who worked well and managed people well. I cannot say that this new was a surprise, a small group of us were well aware of his slow decline, but that knowledge was not enough to prevent sadness and tears at Howard & Germaine’s home. We miss you Joe.
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Lisa Miller It always made me so happy that Joe was in the world, and he will be sorely missed. Any excuse to stop into his office for a chat was a high point in the day (yes, he made data management a happy, calming activity). After he retired, seeing him out and about downtown would still lift my spirits. My heart goes out to Joe’s family for the hole his death has left.
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Debby Ianson Joe has been missed dearly at IOS (the Institute of Ocean Sci). He was always thoughtful about the work and the people. His time there left a great contribution.
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Sebastien Pisterzi I’m so sorry for your loss. I think often of the time we spent together over the years – breaking bread, making sausage, and celebrating through Linguanti and family milestones. Those memories were truly special, and I’m thinking of you and the family.
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Bill Parker I first got to know Joe well at university in Victoria when a group of us Kitimat alumni bonded socially. Those bonds endured over the years many thanks to Joe’s talent for organizing our reunions. I spoke to him several weeks ago. He was frail but he talked of how proud he was to be a part of so many lasting friendships.
Louise and I want to express our heartfelt condolences to Shelly (Joes incredible’rock’) and all his wonderful family.
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Martin and Trish D'Eathe We were so very sorry to hear of Joe’s sad passing, he was such a kindhearted and thoughtful man. It was a pleasure to meet him 10 years ago when he visited Carmen and Gavin here in Ireland and it was good to get to know him even better when we visited Canada. He was so warm and welcoming. Sincere condolences to Shelley, Giorgio, James, Carmen and all of Joe’s family, our thoughts and prayers are with you all
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Kat Derksen (nee Sommer) So very sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. My sincere condolences to Shelley and family – children, grandchildren and siblings.
I knew Joe from our days in Kitimat at MESS. A few years after graduation our paths crossed at UVic where it seemed lots of Kitimat folk sought their post-secondary education.
Joe was often a central figure in organizing MESS reunions. I worked along side of him for many of those and he was . . . Joe! He demonstrated his desire to bring people together over and over again by helping with reunions. I have a feeling that his Celebration of Life will be a reunion of sorts as so many of his MESS friends gather to celebrate a life well lived.
Rest in Peace Joe. You will be missed and remembered by so many.
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Rosemary Mason So sorry about Joe’s passing. He was such a kind, gentle and generous soul. My condolences to you and your family. Unfortunately I cannot attend the celebration of life. I will be thinking about you all.
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Lois Johnson I knew Joe from time we were in Grade 1 together and all through Kildala and Mt.Elizabeth High school days. He always had a smile for me when we crossed paths, and I was so happy to learn that many years later my youngest daughter, Sherry and their son, James became good friends at Stelly’s high school in Sidney. A great coincidence of families resettling and gravitating towards each other.
I’ll miss you, Joe!
Love to your family at this sad time..xo
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Tracy Coghlin So very sad to hear of Joe’s passing – went to high school with Joe, saw him many times over the years in Sidney and always had a coffee to chat and catch up.
My thoughts are with Shelley and the whole family. He will be dearly missed
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Frank Soda My sincere condolences on Joe’s passing. Growing up in Kitimat we shared a bond and always managed to keep in touch, although our paths took different directions after high school. I always looked forward on getting together, whether it was at our reunions or visits to the island. He will be dearly missed,but I hold on fondly to those memories we shared. RIP Joe ❤️
Joe was a close friend for many years, beginning with our shared experiences at the Institute of Ocean Sciences. He hosted Bill’s retirement party, tended the BBQ at our wedding reception, organized the weekly golf events and annual tournament. He and Shelly guided us on a wonderful tour of Sicily. We shared so many wonderful times together including weekly breakfasts among the four retirees: Bill, Mike and Ken. Joe always stood out for his attention to others. One aspect of Joe that we wish we had told him when he was alive is that when he spoke, people listened. He had a special presence that inspired others to want to hear what he was saying. Maybe because he had messages worth listening to; maybe because his caring nature inspired us to listen. It was pure charisma. We miss him and our times together dearly.