Daniel F. Borgia

Daniel F. Borgia
January 18, 1935 – June 23, 2025
Daniel F. Borgia, 90, of Erie, PA passed on his own terms, the same way he lived every minute of his life. He died peacefully, on his couch, surrounded by his children, the way he would have wanted it.
A United States Army veteran, Dan was born on January 18, 1935 and was the son of the late Santo Borgia and Assunta Chesario Borgia of San Lucido, Calabria, Italy.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy (Shearer), and all five of their children: Daniel (Jia), Christopher (Kira), Timothy (Sue), Eric, and Melissa (P.J. Askey). He is survived additionally by many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren as well as by his beloved brother, Edward. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Tullio and Joseph.
Dan was a 1953 graduate of East High School. He started working at a very young age. His first "job" was running numbers for a small business owner on the lower east side. At age 8, he sold soda at bingo in Josephinum Hall. He shined shoes at a parlor on State Street, attended barber school and worked as a barber, bartended at the C.B. Club, earned a real estate sales license and sold for Art Gardner and Baldwin Brothers, opened two retail stores downtown, and operated a Perf-A-Lawn franchise. Starting in 1967, Dan served as a city planner for the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs for the City of Erie, where he worked as an administrator of park development and as a grantsman. There, he obtained funds from state and federal agencies for the acquisition and development of recreational and neighborhood facilities. During his tenure with the city, he was the founding director of We Love Erie Days, now CelebrateErie.
In his spare time, he was a real estate developer. He was responsible for the development of more than 350 housing units in Erie County-- including single family homes and multi-units. Together with business partners John Horan and Jim Toohey, he developed and managed Shoreline Apartments and Tandem Townhouses. The partnership also operated a Dairy Queen franchise.
Somehow, during all this, he was a devoted spouse and father. He served as a volunteer for boys' baseball, earning Parent of the Year in 1969. In 1970, he started the St. Luke's School wrestling team and raised money for the purchase of its first wrestling mat. Dan and Dorothy spent countless hours attending their children's wrestling events, track meets, music recitals, and ballet lessons.
Dan loved bicycling. He often rode around Presque Isle and during vacations in Florida with a senior amateur cycling club, the Naples Spinners. He was a fan of the Tour de France and many other sporting competitions and athletes, especially the tennis star Rafael Nadal. A patron of the arts, Dan loved classical and jazz music. He was not a fan of Elvis.
Dan had a keen interest in politics, writing numerous letters to the editor of the Erie Times News, Erie mayors, state governors, and US presidents. His many efforts garnered replies from Presidents Carter and Clinton. He was an avid student of geography and loved when the subject came up on Jeopardy.
Above all else, Dan cherished his family. He loved fearlessly and with a relentless and tangible tenacity. He and his wife Dorothy formed a devoted and balanced team, adoring their family and accomplishing all together.
Dan's children thank the staff at Millcreek Davida Dialysis for years of support as well as the wonderful folks at Interim HealthCare Hospice of Erie. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Erie Blues and Jazz Fest at www.eriebluesandjazz.com/donations.
Friends are invited to call on Friday from 11 to 2 pm at the Brugger Funeral Homes and Crematory at 845 East 38th Street. No funeral mass will be held. Burial will be held at Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery.