David (M.) Borus, Phd

David M. Borus, PhD, 70, died suddenly on Wednesday February 15, 2017 after a decade-long battle with a heart condition. He was a distinguished educator and educational administrator for over 40 years at Earlham, Kalamazoo, Trinity, and Vassar colleges. David was a committed and loving husband to his wife Judith (Krams) Borus, a caring parent to sons Matthew Borus of Chicago and Zachary Borus and his wife Katherine Mendenhall of Okoboji, Iowa, a delighted grandparent to Elias and Harriet Mendenhall-Borus, and a beloved brother of Jonathan Borus and his wife Dixie of Newton, MA. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Rosalie Borus of Chicago, in-laws Irwin and Beatrice Krams of New Jersey, and older brother Michael Borus, also of New Jersey. He earned his BA in English at Trinity College, his MA in English at DePaul University, and his PhD in Higher Education Administration at the University of Michigan.

David was a lover of folk music, Broadway shows, crossword puzzles, books, and, most of all, his family. A child of Chicago’s South Side, despite years of frustration he remained an avid and loyal fan of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears, as well as (more fruitfully) the University of Michigan and the Chicago Bulls. He was a witty punster and humorist whose jokes could elicit both laughter and groans. He was passionate about social justice and was a strong believer in the worth of all people; by example, he fostered a progressive spirit in his children. He was a kind and insightful leader and colleague and a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and son. He will be missed sorely by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 19th at 11:00am, at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford. Interment will follow in the Beth El Temple Cemetery, Jackson Street, Avon, CT. Shiva will be observed at the Borus home, 20 Overhill Rd, West Hartford, nightly at 7:30pm from Sunday, 2/19, through Wednesday, 2/22/17. In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s memory can be made to Foodshare (450 Woodland Ave, Bloomfield, CT 06002) or any other progressive organization (ACLU, Anti-Defamation League, Planned Parenthood, etc.) that would honor his enduring spirit.