Mark Borden

Dear Mark Borden, I hope you’re with your mom right now. When you spoke of her, it was obvious how much you loved her and missed her. I do hope that there is an afterlife and that you are having a joyful reunion with her and friends who have crossed to the other side. Thank you for caring so much about this community and putting so much heart, creativity, zaniness, and joy into it! You were the glue who brought our group of friends together on a regular basis. I still have the old emails from you from 2007 announcing events almost every or other week! Not only that, but you also called upon us to participate and support our friends, and you encouraged us to come up with more ideas to benefit the community. You were a true leader and a cheerleader. You were one of the smartest and most interesting people I’d ever met. I enjoyed your brilliant storytelling of your adventures and misadventures. For someone holding such an important job helping keep the country safe, you also never took yourself too seriously. The quote under your email signature was one I think you truly believed, especially that last line. ”Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so.” (Robert G. Ingersoll) I believe you felt that your purpose was to help others and bring them joy. You’d surprise and delight strangers by gifting them bunny ears or silly prank items that would have them in stitches! When some in the community were struggling, you showed your generosity and tried to help. I wish you could have found happiness for yourself and practiced the self-care you deserved. It hit me harder than I expected when you left us over a week ago. I’m grateful that I came to see you that last time even if you were hooked up to numerous tubes and appeared to be unconscious. I hope you heard everything I said about the fun times we had and that it brought a glow or even a little smile in your heart to know that we all loved and appreciated you. I wish we’d all had more time with you and you’re leaving a huge hole in the hearts of so many. That sounds selfish of me to say so, but I wish you were still with us, happy and healthy. You were gone too soon. At the same time, I don’t know of anyone who managed to fit in so much of LIFE in the time that you had! You were incredible and one of the best of us, and also a flawed and complex human at the same time. None of us could help you with your struggles because you thought you could handle it on your own. I will miss you so very much. I’ve had a mix of emotions, both angry and sad. But I’m also so very grateful to have known you and loved you as a remarkable human, and a good friend. Our friend, Josh, recounted a story of a conversation he had with you some years ago, where you congratulated him on reaching the “third level of happiness.” You then proceeded to explain it something along the lines of this – “3rd level of happiness man. The 1st level is finding joy for yourself, that’s easy. The 2nd is figuring out a way to spread that joy to those around you, and that’s unselfish and feels amazing. The elusive 3rd level though, is where you can create environments, situations, art, which not only brings joy to those around you, yet inspires them to bring joy to those around them as well.” You, yourself, reached that 3rd level! I wish you could’ve stayed there. In the end, I’m not sure you were even at the 1st level and that’s the saddest of all. You were one of a kind. A legend. A brilliant mind. A comedian. An artist. An innovator. A flawed human. A kind soul. A good friend. No matter what anyone may say about your failings and weaknesses, you had a good heart. Love you and miss you, Mark Borden! Condolences to your family.

Mary Jo- So sorry to hear about Mark's passing. I remember him from his high school days. He was such a great guy! I am truly sorry for your loss.

Forever in my heart. I will miss you, friend.

The MAN! Who introduced me to ACDC! Was my next door neighbor for many years! The crazy movie maker! The cool dude from St. John's HS! You will be missed! Give them heck up in heaven!

Rest in peace in the almighty kingdom of heaven uncle mark!

Mark was the officiant at our wedding. Between that and his community building, he gave us many, many happy memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Just this morning, before I knew this news, I was telling someone Mark's can of silver edible spray paint and well sprayed lower face was one of the simplest, most interactive, coolest, elegant costume ideas ever. All it took was the spray paint and for him to make eye contact and yell "Witness Me!" He was one of the good ones in all the best ways. The world just got so much more boring. I am grateful for knowing him. He helped make me a better burner and person and I am grateful to him for it. Safe Journey Booger.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.