George Borisuk dead at 83: His legacy to parish

George Borisuk, who died Sunday, left his mark on St, Paul Parish. He crafted the metal sculpture depicting the life of St. Paul which hangs on the northeast wall of the church. His wife, Millie, died September 5, 2009. She was a very active sacristan and was 2008 Woman of the Year of the Southern Council of Catholic Women.

George Valentine Borisuk, 83, joined his loving wife, Millie, in heaven on October 9, 2011 surrounded by his family.

He was born February 14, 1928 in Rittman, Ohio and moved to Barberton as a youth. At age 16 he joined the Merchant Marines and saw the Pacific. He then joined the U.S. Army in 1946 before marrying his high school sweetheart, Mildred Weigand, in 1948. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage. He worked as a pipefitter at Goodyear for 36 years and moved up the ranks to dept. foreman where he held the respect of all his coworkers and is remembered still.

In 1976 Goodyear sent him to S. Africa as a Master Mechanic for nine months. He made the most of his 26 years of retirement.

He and Millie enjoyed numerous trips around the states with their four children as well as tours in Europe and several cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska.

George played accordion in several polka bands as well as all the family Christmas parties. He enjoyed fishing at Mogadore Reservoir while listening to polkas.

Dad found a way to improve things and spent thousands of hours ``puttering' in his garage workshop. Most would remember the gold ``junk' convertible and the red ``jeep' he built for the kids to drive around the school. He told it like it was but had a great sense of humor to the end.

George will be remembered at St. Paul's Church where a metal sculpture hangs that he created depicting the life of St. Paul.

Preceded in death by father, Sam Borisuk; mother, Mary Wolsky; infant daughter, Susan Marie and sister, Helen Firis. He leaves loving memories to daughters, Sandy Heasley, Brenda (Bill) McShaffrey, Denise (John) Casalinuovo; and son, Fred (Gloria) Borisuk; grandchildren, Susan (Jason) Ratay, Sarah, Alexandra and Samantha Borisuk, Eddie and Maggie McShaffrey, Michael and Christopher Casalinuovo and Christina Heasley; great grandchild, Noah Heasley.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Anthony Funeral Home KUCKO-ANTHONY-KERTESZ CHAPEL, 1990 S. Main St. in Akron. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Ralph Thomas on Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church on Brown St. in Akron. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations in George's memory may be made to the St. Paul Church Building Fund, 433 Mission Drive, Akron, OH 44319 or to the Justin T. Rogers Hospice Care Center, 3358 Ridgewood Rd., Akron, OH 44333.
Anthony Funeral Homes Akron, anthonyfh.com 330.724.1281
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, October 11, 2011, page B4, col. 2]

See article in our archives with a photo of the metal sculpture and how it was constructed.

See another article on other metal work done by Borusik. His figure of St. Paul now hangs on a wall in St. Paul School