RICHARD ULDIS BORISS

(January 9, 1942 – November 16, 2025) Whether you knew him as Dick, Richard, Uldis, UB, the Captain, Papa, or Mr. Boriss, to know him was to love him. He had a remarkable gift for bringing out the best in everyone he met and always left people smiling. Uldis was born in 1942 in Jelgava, Latvia, to Emma and Nikolajs Boriss. In 1944, his parents made the courageous decision to flee Soviet re-occupation, escaping by fishing boat under cover of night to Sweden. They lived in Stockholm for five years, where brother, Ivar, was born, before emigrating to Canada in the late 1940s. They built a rich and happy farming life in Orangeville and as they settled into their new home, Uldis became lovingly known as Richard - Dick to most. After high school, Dick attended Western University, completing both his undergraduate and law degrees. He financed his studies through work in the mines of BC and by joining the University Naval Training Division. Dick described this experience as "the days in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve sailing the seas with best friends and risking our lives to defend our freedom and democracy." He married his wife, Christine (née Gillin), on October 26, 1968, and after a year of traveling the world, he started at Thomson Rogers in Toronto, where he practiced for five years. After the birth of their first child, they moved to Peterborough in 1975 and Dick opened a law practice with Alec Gowland. Their partnership thrived for 40 years. Dick was known as a dedicated, formidable, and highly respected defense attorney until his retirement in 2011. A passionate sportsman, Dick captained the Peterborough Hotpoints hockey team from 1980–2015, leading them through decades of camaraderie and success. He was a devoted golfer, playing weekly in Peterborough and on courses around the world, especially on his many beloved trips to Ireland. Dick's storytelling, quick wit, and infectious sense of humour will be deeply missed. The friendships he nurtured - rooted in empathy, charm, and a true zest for life - were among his greatest treasures. His greatest joys were his wife, Christine; his children, David (Shannon), Karen (Alex), and Megan (Jon); and his seven grandchildren: Izzy, Olive, Juliet, Amelia, Lou, Nick, and Crosby. In his final years, he continued to travel with his family, enjoying good red wine everywhere he went, from Latvia to France to his cherished British Columbia. In lieu of flowers, donations to Doctors Without Borders (action.msf.ca) or United Way Peterborough & District (give.unitedway.ca) are appreciated. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club, 1030 Armour Road, on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tributes will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by lunch.