Obituary of Brian Joseph Borich

Brian Joseph Borich, age 76, passed away on April 16th, 2020 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay with two of his caring nurses by his side. He was born on June 29th, 1943 in Duluth to Anthony and Ellen Mae (Scholar) Borich. He graduated from AlBrook High School 1961 and then completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1965 before earning his Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in 1968. Brian then proudly served in the Army as a social worker from 1969-1971. He spent his career as a respected and tireless protector of children and families primarily in the role of Division Director of Children and Family Services for St. Louis County. Brian could fix anything, including his high school car-a 1948 Mercury Coupe which he used with his family to visit every state (except Hawaii). He was always the life of the party with an infectious personality and irrepressible sense of humor. Most importantly, he was kind and he genuinely cared for all those he knew and deeply loved his friends and family.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank and Anna (Schweiger) Borich, parents, and the love of his life - Marilyn Jean (Kresal) Borich. Ever the romantic, Brian passed away on their 43rd wedding anniversary. Brian is survived by his sister, Bonnie Tuominen, his mother-in-law, Barbara (Cleveland) Kresal, Kyle (Robbin) Tuominen, and his four children: Kevin, Heather, Matt (Mona), and Michael (Jessica) Borich. He is also survived by an amazing network of supportive friends and family too vast to list. Please save the date for a future Celebration of Life to be held at a TBD location and date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Brian’s name to the American Cancer Society or the Lewy Body Dementia Association. The family would like to extend our gratitude to the staff at the Veterans Home in Silver Bay who tirelessly cared for him and made the last stage of his life one of light rather than darkness. Brian will be remembered as one-of-a-kind and deeply missed by all those whose lives he touched.