Judy, Matt, and Zach,
I'm so sorry for your loss. I have fond memories of your time in Kalamazoo. You were so supportive and we had good times in music class and soccer for our then very young men. I do think about you. Would love to hear from you. Ian is a principal in a middle school in Nashua NH, Tyler is an executive pastry chef at Lafayette in NY city, and Morgan is a meat Manager here. I am fine and working 20 hrs/wk at K'zoo Loaves and Fishes. Be good to yourselves and sending warm thoughts and love your way. Joan

To David's Family: I am so sorry for your loss. I am a graduate of Vassar (class of '97), a former 'Senior Intern' of the Vassar admissions office and a college admissions consultant. Dean Boris was a fabulous, thoughtful and fun presence throughout my years at Vassar and later as someone I loved seeing on campus or at NACAC conferences. He made an impact on my professional and personal life through his support of my pursuit of work in the admissions landscape. (When I left Vassar I became an admissions officer and Columbia and then an admissions consultant). David and I had many meaningful and honest conversations about the challenges of the admissions process, the difficulties teens face in this landscape and some of the pitfalls of parenting. David was amazingly supportive of one of my most special and talented students, who I am now proud to call a fellow alum of Vassar.

I was so sad to learn today of David's untimely passing. I want you to know that his legacy goes far beyond what you may be able to see daily, and he will be missed by very many.

To The Borus Family,
I was fortunate enough to have known David through our shared worked in college admission. Throughout my entire career, David was a presence -- a calm, down to earth, and engaging professional and friend. Yes, he had a gift for finding humor in the most challenging of circumstances -- I benefited from that more times that I can recount! He left a mark in our profession as an advisor, mentor, colleague, and leader. I will miss him tremendously. My thoughts are with you and all those who loved and admired him. With care, Katie Fretwell

The Dean and I came to Vassar Admissions the same year. He was a great man and I enjoyed working for him. There were so many memories made - I especially appreciated his humor and his sense of fairness. When he retired we really missed his daily visits to the "Garden Level". My deep sympathy to you all - he will not be forgotten.

Judy and family,

My very deepest sympathies on the sudden loss of David. Although, I have only had the opportunity to work closely with him at Beth El for the last almost 2 years, it was one of the greatest opportunities for me. His brilliance, wit, bottom line thinking and love of my salmon dinners, were a blessing for me.

He will be sorely missed, as he always added great value to all he participated in at Beth El.
May his memory be for a blessing always.

Judy and David Rosenthal

David was a wonderful colleague. I fondly remember our many conversations and occasional lunches together. He was a calm, quiet, and extraordinarily important presence on the Vassar campus. My sincerest condolences and best wishes to David's family.

I was the Director of Financial Aid at Vassar College when David became the Dean of Admission and Financial Aid; we worked together until I retired in 2012. As one can imagine, I was a bit nervous about the type of person I would have as my new boss. He spent a considerable amount of time in my office, thoughtfully asking questions about office operations and examining the methodology of the budget analysis. After that first year he pretty much left me alone to run my office. He never micromanaged and always had my back, offering counsel and support when needed. In my mind that is the greatest compliment one can make about one's boss.
Beyond that we established a connection with our love for our families, sports (me - the Yankees and he - the White Sox), and an interest in the Civil War. We went to a Yankees v White Sox game in the Bronx, which the Sox thankfully won.
I find it sad that he did not have more time to enjoy his well earned retirement, but in my view he led a good life in which he had a positive impact on the lives of so many. David was a very good man.

As a former Vassar trustee, I always admired and trusted David in his role as Director of Admissions. He helped create a diverse and talented student body that makes Vassar so strong today and was always a helpful colleague.
My sympathy and thoughts go to his family.

Sincerely,
Lynn Gross Straus ‘46

David was instrumental in cooperating with me in bringing some the very first Chinese students from Beijing to Vassar. One of them Zhao Gang has gone on to become a famous artist. He had heart and insight!

I worked with David the entire time he was at Vassar. He was a wonderful colleague, thoughtful and understanding. I'm glad I knew him.

So sorry to hear of the passing of David. I worked briefly for him here at Vassar as a temp. I will miss his unique sense of humor and his intellect. He was very responsible for me getting my permanent position at Vassar by giving me such a lovely reference. Please accept my deepest sympathies to the entire Borus family.

I was one of the many people lucky enough to have known David as a close colleague. The work on admissions communications that we both had an integral part in is among the work I'm most proud of. And it was certainly among the most fun. I ribbed David about being too conservative in his creative outlook and he "admonished" me for being too risky. We tended to meet in the middle and it was often just the right place for the college. Over the years we used to joke that we were actually changing roles: he had become the creative risk-taker and I was becoming, well....David. If that is true, I am proud to have become more like him. A wonderful person whose sense of humor and great laugh I miss as I know many others do too.

My condolences to David's family and loved ones. Richard Roberts, Vassar '74.

I got to know David through our book club. His comments were in inciteful caring and humerous. When he spoke we all listened with anticipation. He will be remembered and missed. Know that he lives on in our minds and heart. May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion.

Dear Judy,
I am so saddened by the news of David's death. Earlier this week, I came across a letter of recommendation he had written for me when I was leaving Earlham for Simmons. In typical David fashion, it was beautifully and artfully written; I immediately realized why I had saved it for over 30 years. I am filled with so many wonderful memories of our years together at Earlham, beginning with the first day I met David when he came for his interview to be my Associate Dean. I feel as if we grew up together professionally in those years, beginning when we were 31. And what fun we had. And then, he, and John, went on to have such distinguished careers, far surpassing anything I could have taught them. To know they both died so young. It is simply not fair. Judy, I hope we can reconnect in the not too distant future. For now, I send my heartfelt sympathy to Mathew and Zach and his wife and children, and most especially to you. With much affection, Lucky

This is very sad news indeed. I knew David both as a colleague on the Admissions Committee and as a parent of two boys who were looking at colleges. David was a pleasure to work with, and to be around. Thoughtful and funny, unflappable and articulate. I vividly remember one evening when my younger son was in 11th grade (2011) and David came to the local high school here for the College Fair. At the appointed time he got up in the classroom to speak, and I recall thinking not only how articulate he was, how well he was able to convey Vassar's character in vivid fashion, but also how he gave the impression that he was excited to be there late in a long day, excited to be giving a speech that he'd probably given hundreds of times by then! NO sense at all of "just going through the motions."

The last time I saw David, he was leaving campus. I asked where he was headed, and, with the biggest smile I'd ever seen on him, he said simply: "I'm off to be with my grandkids."

Jim Merrell, Professor of History

Oh, I am so very sorry to hear this news. David was my first boss at my first "real" job at Trinity College. He taught me everything from how to give a speech to how to use the office coffee pot. David was a kind and brilliant man. Your memorial is lovely and captures who he was. I do remember the bad puns and jokes--if I ever made the mistake of saying "I HATE snow" (or some other inanimate object), David never failed to respond with "maybe snow hates you too!" I hold your family in my heart.

Dear Borus family and friends: I so enjoyed working with David at Vassar. His good cheer and kindness made everyone welcome, and his love of education and particularly his dedication to Vassar enlivened every board meeting. with sympathy and also many happy memories, Sally

My deepest sympathy to Judy and family at David's sudden passing. He was an understanding and supportive Director of Admission at Vassar. I was blessed to have him as my boss and friend.

I knew David well during his long tenure as director of admissions at Vassar.I served on the search committee that chose him and often discussed admissions policies with him. I liked and admired him greatly, a wonderful human being who was excellent at
what he did.
My condolences to Judith and his family. Michael Mc Carthy

Astute, humane, fair-minded, David was superb in his role as Director of Admissions at Vassar.
As a faculty colleague who served on the Admissions Committee, I greatly admired David's professional skills and human qualities, and wish to express my profound sympathy to his family.

I knew David for many years. He came into The Retreat at Vassar for coffee on a daily basis. He was always kind and respectful of the staff. David respected everyone at the college. I'm sorry he is gone.

I have many fond memories of traveling overseas for work with David. This includes a trip he and I made together to Hong Kong and Taiwan, we must have looked like the odd couple. David was also a bit of a mentor to me, often having sage advice when I needed it. In the recent years I treasured seeing him once a year at NACAC even just for five minutes in a crowded hallway.

I feel privileged to have known him and benefited from his wisdom.

Best wishes to his family,
Eric Pedersen

David was an insightful and fun person with whom to work. I was a faculty member of the Committee on Admissions off and on during his tenure at the college, and I enjoyed our interactions thoroughly.

My thoughts are with his loving family.

Adelaide H. Villmoare, Professor Emerita, Department of Political Science

My deepest sympathies extended to all. He was a great colleague and friend.

I am so sorry to hear this. David was such a wonderful colleague. I'm sorry he didn't get to enjoy more of his retirement, and his family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

When I arrived at Vassar some six years ago, David was always cordial and willing to explain the mysteries of the Admissions world to a newcomer who is liaison to a major international scholarship program here, as well as a grants officer. I appreciated his quiet intelligence and am deeply sorry for your loss.

I am so saddened by this loss and send heartfelt condolences to David's family. We worked together at Vassar for many years, and I valued his leadership, his directness, his insight, and his unfailing collegiality.

I am so saddened by the news of David's passing. He was both a Vassar colleague and friend and was the Dean of Admission to two of my children who matriculated at Vassar and one became a tour guide for his office. My heartfelt condolences to his family and his large circle of friends.

He was a wonderful colleague. His droll sense of humor always left a smile on my face. Fly on, David. May peace be with you.

David was the best possible colleague to me: smart, willing to disagree with me and argue his points effectively, always gracious and open. He was invariably sensitive and sensible, always dealing with everyone openly, with humor and concern. He was a transformational Dean of Admissions for Vassar, who saw the potential in applicants and shaped many, many excellent, diverse and interesting classes for the College, literally making Vassar what it was.
We are all deeply saddened by this great loss.
Frances Fergusson, President Emerita of Vassar.

I have many wonderful memories of travels in Latin America with David. No matter the situation (canceled flights, volcanic eruptions, crazy schedules) David lifted our spirits with his wry sense of humor. Looking back on the hundred or so trips I've taken around the works for work, I laughed the most with him. He had a zest for life, an open mind, a kind heart, keen intelligence and wit, and curiosity about the world. He will be greatly missed by many, far and wide.

David was a mentor and a friend, whose humor I have enjoyed and humanity I have admired. It is an honor to have known the man; he helped me raise my game and served Vassar with sincerity and strength. My love to the Borus family now and always.