Borell Kirschen

August 7, 1937

Borell Kirschen died on December 25, 2017 at the age of 80. He was born in Flemington, New Jersey on August 7, 1937 to the late Sidney and Nady Kirschen. He graduated from Flemington high-school in 1955. He graduated from Williams College in 1959 where he graduated with honors and a BA in History. In 1962, he received his law degree at Yale University.

In 1962, he joined North American Aviation. From 1964-1971 he was in private practice in Pacific Grove and was Deputy District Attorney in Monterrey County.

In 1971 he joined Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in San Francisco, became General Counsel in 1977 and retired in 1993.

He was Chairman of The Gateway Center for Adults with Disabilities, President of the World Affairs Council of the Monterrey Peninsula, President of the Pacific Grove Art Center, and board member of the Monterrey Peninsula Museum of Art, Marin Symphony, Marin Opera, Marin Ballet, Santa Rosa Symphony, and Santa Rosa Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs.

He married his soul mate, Janet, in 1973. He played with the San Francisco Rugby Club from 1973 to 1976. He sang with the Marin Community Chorus, the Sonoma Valley Chorale, the Marin Opera Chorus, and The Thermostats. He traveled widely with Janet. He was a connoisseur of art, music, and literature.

He was singularly accomplished and widely admired for his brilliance, humility, humanity, whimsicality, and civility—the paragon of a hail fellow well met.

He will be remembered by Janet, his beloved wife, his brother Roger and his wife Laurel, niece Sandra Solof and her children. The memorial mass is on January 12, at 11:00 am, at Star of the Valley Catholic Church, 496 White Oak Drive, Santa Rosa. A reception will follow. Donations to the Santa Rosa Symphony are suggested.