Neil Putnam Borden

Neil Putnam Borden, age 54, of Quincy, died, Monday, July 28, 2025, after a brief battle with an inoperable cancer.

Articulate, loving, ferociously independent, industrious, mischievous, occasionally high-strung, talented and entertaining - Neil lived in our world; yet he didn't. Neil often dreamed of a more perfect world where imagination, art, reason and joy were the preferred method of communication, the currency of exchange. This was the world Neil longed for.



Neil was always ready to participate in a warm embrace; invariably primed to share his comedic, sometimes ribald, sense of humor with others; and often motivated to provide thoughtful, frequently detailed, insight to others in the form of a story or social media post. Neil was a believer in the Impossible. Neil will be missed ...

Neil was born in Quincy on November 10, 1970; and he spent his childhood living on Lurton Street, six blocks south of The Adams Farm at Penn's Hill, where Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams once lived. The site of Neil's childhood home was historically a vast blueberry patch where the Adams' once picked blueberries.



Penn's Hill was also home of the Penn's Hill Gang, a friendly and welcoming group of neighbors who socialized and celebrated holidays together; attended St. John the Baptist Parish, where Neil served as an altar boy; and when schedules permitted, went camping together. Neil was among the final babies born to the Penn's Hill Gang.

Neil was a real neighborhood kid. He went to the Adams Grammar School and when the city of Quincy closed Adams school, Neil continued his education at the newly built Lincoln-Hancock Elementary School. Neil attended middle school at Sacred Heart School in Weymouth; and in 1989 he completed his college-preparatory education at Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, ready for what college would bring. Neil matriculated and graduated from Bridgewater State University, Class of 1993, earning a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts.

A mischievous teen, Neil would spend an inordinate amount of time in the family bathroom sneaking cigarettes; yet he somehow managed to leave no trace of cigarette smoke behind, and his family was unsuspecting! Neil loved music! He enjoyed playing the family piano often surrounded by his circle of Penn's Hill friends, jointly creating a chorus of song and melody.



Pop music was Neil's passion. He collected the hits of the day on 45 rpm vinyl records, and he faithfully tracked the Billboard magazine Top 40 charts. Neil, on occasion, played disk jockey and spun his vast collection of 45s at family celebrations. He rocked the house at his sister Allyson's thirtieth and fortieth birthday parties, and at his parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary party. Neil was a big fan of photographic reproductions of his favorite film and classic television actors and wherever he lived, those pictures would decorate his walls.

During his formative years as a teen and young adult, Neil explored and significantly developed his emerging acting and singing talents. Curtain Call Theatre of Braintree offered Neil his first opportunity to take to the stage, often in lead roles. At Curtain Call Theatre Neil performed in productions of Oliver, The Music Man, Oklahoma, Amadeus and Inherit the Wind.

Neil seriously advanced his theatrical talents at Bridgewater State University, where he played an array of significant supporting characters: Fyedka in 'Fiddler on the Roof'; Mark in 'The Shadow Box'; Cinderella's Prince and Little Red Riding Hood's tormentor The Big Bad Wolf in 'Into the Woods'; and the lead character Charles Condomine in 'Blithe Spirit'. These roles all required significant acting skills, and some also demanded singing expertise. After university, Neil performed the role of Will Parker in the musical 'Oklahoma' presented by The Company Theatre of Norwell.

After college Neil moved from Quincy to the South End of Boston. But as a trained actor, Neil made the decision to move to New York City to pursue theatrical opportunity. While in NYC in the year 2000, Neil self-produced a compact disc collection of contemporary and classic Broadway standards, sung by himself, titled '... And So It Goes'. When in NYC Neil worked at Carmine's family style Italian restaurant in Times Square and Cafeteria restaurant located in the heart of Chelsea. Neil loved sharing stories of people he had the opportunity to meet at these locations, especially Liza Minnelli and Regis Philbin. Neil also occasionally recounted his experience of being in NYC when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell on 9/11, 2001.

While working at Cafeteria restaurant in NYC, Neil was given the opportunity to be part of a team of accomplished employees who would relocate to South Beach, Miami to launch a new Cafeteria location. Neil spent many happy years at South Beach.

Neil returned to Quincy and dedicated himself to providing loving care for his aging parents. Additionally, Neil served as Manager of The Dell Technologies (formerly EMC) Club at Fenway Park.



While in Quincy, Neil continued his yearly tradition of sending homemade, often humorous, Christmas cards that recipients eagerly looked forward to receiving and often kept. Neil also kept occupied photographing the beautiful scenic vistas of Quincy and Boston. Neil created collages on wood comprised of his photos; often complemented by reproductions of newspaper articles, offering expanded detail relevant to the photo. Neil was an outspoken advocate and leader in the successful community effort to keep the Ruth Gordon Amphitheater open and flourishing in Merrymount Park, Quincy.

Neil was the beloved son of the late Alice C. (MacLeod) and Putnam S. Borden; devoted brother to Allyson M. Borden of Quincy, Kenneth M. Borden of Washington, D.C., and Holly S. Borden of N.C. and her late husband Rudra Altman; and loving nephew of Lloyd Emery of Hanover. Neil is also survived by many cousins and dear friends. Neil was the cherished Dog-Dad to rescue dog, Tommy.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Morrisette Post 294, 81 Liberty Street, Quincy, on Sunday, October 12, from 1 - 4 p.m.

For those who wish, donations in Neil's memory may be made to Boston Animal Care and Control, 26 Mahler Road, Roslindale, MA 02131; please make checks payable to The Fund for Animal Care and Control.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Sweeney Brothers Home for Funerals, 1 Independence Avenue, Quincy. You are invited to visit www.thesweeneybrothers.com or call 617-472-6344.