Thomas Borden

1926 - 2014

Thomas W. Borden

On March 14, 2014, Thomas W. Borden passed away peacefully after a brief illness in Portola Valley. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Barbara. He is survived by his three children, Ann Bruhn, John Borden, and Jim Borden, their respective spouses Rande Bruhn, Donna Borden, and Julie Borden, and his grandchildren, Katie Crews, and her husband Matthew, Matt Bruhn, Luc Borden, Elaine Borden, Craig Borden, and Mary Borden.

Tom was born in Long Branch, NJ on August 18, 1926 to Ruth Winckler Borden and Bryan Steele Borden. He grew up in Long Beach, CA where he attended Will Rogers Junior High and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1944. He attended the College of the Pacific as a member of the Navy V12 program and then was transferred to the Navy ROTC program at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1948. He was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.

Following college, Tom spent two years working at Weeden & Co., a San Francisco-based investment firm. From 1951 to 1953 he served his country in the Korean War, as a Supply Officer aboard the USS Wantuck. Upon returning to the Bay Area, Tom rejoined Weeden & Co, and in 1954 he married Barbara Jean Seal from Long Beach, CA. They moved to Menlo Park later that year where they lived for nearly 50 years, raised their family, and built life-long friendships.

Tom enjoyed his work, and his 40 years in the investment business at Weeden & Co., and later at Stone & Youngberg. He was a long-time member of the San Francisco Bond Club where he served as president from 1970-1971. He served on the Board of Governors of the National Association of Securities Dealers for three years. He was also Chairman of the NASD Disciplinary Committee for Northern California, Oregon, and Hawaii, and he actively participated in arbitration hearings for 20 years. Tom also served on the San Mateo Grand Jury. He was an active participant in the Rotary Club in Menlo Park. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Rotary's scholarship programs, the Haas School of Business, UC's Transfer Alliance Project, and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

Tom led a busy social life as well. He was a long-time member of the University Club in San Francisco and the Menlo Circus Club. He found a great deal of pleasure spending time with his many friends, travelling extensively, and attending Stanford football games. The last 13 years Tom lived at the Sequoias in Portola Valley. He enjoyed the years there where he formed new friendships and enjoyed his old ones. He particularly loved staying connected and close to his grandchildren.  Perhaps his greatest joy was being with his family at Lake Tahoe. From 1955 through 2013 he spent part of each summer on the lake in the company of his family, swimming, rowing, and sharing the beauty of the outdoors.  For his family, he will be remembered as Tom, Dad and Papa, and as a loving, supportive, and positive presence in our lives. We will miss him dearly. A celebration of Tom's life will be held later this month. His family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Menlo Park Rotary Foundation or the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For further information contact Ann at: www.rememberingtwb@gmail.com