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Mitchell Borenstein Obituary

Mitchell Borenstein
Mitchell Borenstein, owner of Applebrook Auctions of New Milford, unexpectedly passed away Saturday at the age of 64. He was an avid animal lover, and a loving, caring man with a wonderful sense of humor. He could be seen at local restaurants almost every morning enjoying breakfast and catching up on the local news.
Mitchell was born and raised in New Rochelle, NY. After high school he moved to NYC where he worked in the real estate business. Over time he developed an interest in CT real estate and moved to CT about thirty years ago. Shortly thereafter he realized that he had a gift as an auctioneer. In 1999 he founded Applebrook, and spent the rest of his working life hunting for long lost treasures from Warhol and Picasso to Tiffany and gold.
Mitchell was predeceased by his mother and father, Gloria and Charles, and his brother Eugene. He is survived by his sister Merry and his Applebrook family.
Donations in Mitchell's memory to your local animal shelter would be appreciated.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New Milford Spectrum on Jan. 11, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Mitchell Borenstein

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Linda Spak

January 6, 2024

Memories of Mitchell are numerous. His love and caring for Cisco are just one.
Linda Spak
Longtime Friend

Jayne Turek

January 5, 2024

You were always a friend- easy to see & easier to spend time and be with. I think of you at unexpected times & my memories of you always make me smile.
Jayne

Kenny Jacobson

January 5, 2022

My wife and I met Mitch when we were moving and he held an estate sale for us. From the moment we met him we took an instant liking to him and he to us. In fact he adopted my wife as his mother and from the first day we met him he called her mom.
Although we were not in touch that much we miss him very much and think of him often. He loved his rye bread and I brought him a loaf at an auction and he sat there and ate most of it before the auction started.
What a dear man he was.

John O'Bine

January 5, 2022

Mitchell was one of a kind! He will be truly missed by many more than myself. Quite memorable though we might meet only a few times a year or so.
He creatively adapted, had a very likable presence, good business mind,, quick wit, on and on, and succeeded accordingly. There was always personal attention. I grasped it and appreciated this, from the first meeting's. Quite the capable professional - "Mitch". Knew him from his Brookfield auction house days. A man with a vision and a plan - untypically - such a challenging business. One where you proved yourself daily or you didn't survive frankly. :).
We knew each other on a professional level. It was nice to read about Mitch's love for animals and so forth. Not surprising though.
Yes, a great sense of humor. Quite cathartic but consistent. A love for life and what he did came through for myself. Time with Mitchell was like special envelopes where happened so fast that smiling was pretty much forever and confidence in him, his abilities, never doubted. (Though I think he thought I did) Mitch had a keen sense of how things worked, would get done.. Whatever was to be done was being done on time and point.
A great memory and contacts to make it all happen as well.
Mitchell's expectations were high - for all concerned.
As was his Integrity. Always.
Maybe 25 or so years we had shared selling experiences. All successes. I was actually in the same type business: "New Milford Auction Center" back in the 80's for around 5 years.
Not an easy business as I recall. So Mitchell's talents were all needed, put to use, to thrive for so long.
One of Mitch's very capable associates was Justin. All the Best to you Justin!
I'm a few town's over now after 40 or so years in the New Milford/Bridgewater area
At: [email protected] if someone wishes to contact me.
Rest in Peace Mitch! Your passing marks the end (I fear) of a series of "local" professionally managed, successful, country auctions. ...dating back to the '60's. ...by such other's as Paul Leonard. There were other surrounding town's involved as well. Like Woodbury, Litchfield, etc.
All had something in common with P.T. Barnum I believe :). An ability to think fast, promote, ever adapting, incredible recall. These as well as an affinity and caring for our history and people, above it all!
Onwards we go. All involved would have it this way! John

Joseph A. Mustich

January 5, 2022

Such a great guy! RIP Mitchell!

John O'Bine

October 6, 2021

Mitch,
You were an exceptionally smart and kind person. Humorous and resourceful - a great business talent and a friend.
"OH, wait a minute", you are so missed. (Some past humor Mitchell, remember? :) Humor even now, you would have it this way. Always a humorous side. Now celebrating your meaningful life. This CT area and I will greatly miss you and recall you and your legacy Mitchell. Rest In Peace. - John O'Bine

Andrew & Diane

September 26, 2021

So shocking that we lost Mitchell
He was a very kind person and it was a pleasure to of known and done business with him. We followed him to a few locations for his auctions and always left w fond memories, keepsakes and a smile . So sorry to of only heard about this now , COVID days have kept many of us out of our usual picking routines .. rip

Kenny & Betsy

July 4, 2021

This is July 4, and we just found out that Mitch had passed away months ago. We are in a state of shock. He used to refer to us as Mom and Dad, and he had really played an important part in our lives, so this is really a shock. If anyone has info you could share with us about his passing, you know our last names, & we live in Sandy Hook.

Lesley Schoepp

June 13, 2021

Mitchell was a very good person. I had many encounters with him over the years at estate sales. He would always come to Italia Mia and be very pleasant. He will be sadly missed

Jean

March 15, 2021

Mitchell was a kind wonderful person.
He always made me laugh!
I miss him.

Joseph A. Mustich

March 4, 2021

I’m so very sorry to hear about Mitchell’s passing. I’m a friend and client of his. With condolences to Merry and the Applebrook family.

Joseph A. Mustich

March 4, 2021

I’m so very sorry to hear about Mitchell’s passing. I’m a friend and client of his. With condolences to Merry and the Applebrook family.0

Jayne Turek

February 12, 2021

A wonderful person who l have known many years through the antique world.

Stephanie H

January 27, 2021

I will really miss Mitchell. He was such a great guy. And we hit it off immediately. I think it was the anew York sense of humor thing. My heart goes out to Justin. RIP Mitchell

Gayle G

January 24, 2021

I am a New Milford resident who frequently visited Mitchell’s store in town. I met him a few times and he was always the most pleasant person. I was saddened to hear of his passing so suddenly. Godspeed to you Mitchell.

Rosemary Erb-Fawcett

January 18, 2021

From Laurel Hill Rd. Brookfield, to The Firehouse in Southbury, to The Maxx in New Milford, to Invaluable...Invitational estate sales, Flash Mob Sales for 2 hours only "leaving out the door by 12:30" Lucky and happy to have seen and spoken to him so much this past summer. So funny, so knowledgeable, so missed.

Kate Thurlow

January 18, 2021

Words don’t express the sadness I felt in learning the news of Mitchell’s passing....I had just spoken to him on Christmas Eve and as usual he had me in stitches. I met him about 16 years ago through a mutual friend in the business and we became fast friends. Mitchell was brilliant, kind, an extremely dedicated hard worker & business man, animal lover and possessed a fantastic sense of humor.

He will be so very much missed by all those fortunate enough to have known him. He will be especially missed by my 6yr old son who adored “Mr Mitchell” and whom Mitchell refereed to as his protege and joked that one day he would turn his business over to him. My son grew up attending Mitchell’s sales and loved to sit with him and give prices to customers while I shopped. He was so patient and kind with my son and would always make time to listen to his rambling stories regardless of how busy he was.

I am so grateful for the wonderful memories my family has and we will cherish them always. Until we meet again my friend....I know you will be looking down watching over everyone. The world has truly lost an absolute gem

Dawn Sheppard

January 13, 2021

When I moved to Brookfield from NYC in the early 90's, I started going to the Applebrook auctions. He was my very first friend in this new business I was attracted to. He was a perfect mentor with a fabulous sense of humor. There is so much love for this man, and he leaves a beautiful legacy. I miss you Mitchell...gone too soon!

Andrea Swiedler

January 12, 2021

Mitchell will be missed by so many. A good man, generous, caring, a wicked sense of humor, always made me laugh. He was loved by so many. I don't know if he truly understood the impact he had on those he came in contact with. We are richer for having known him, and sad beyond belief he is not with us any longer.

aj dubois

January 12, 2021

So terribly sad. RIP Mitch.

Linda Spak

January 12, 2021

Mitchell was a good friend, neighbor, real estate client and I will miss him. Such a generous person with his auctioneer talent and antiques knowledge.

Loretta Kretchko

January 12, 2021

Mitchell was a caring and sensitive man. He thought of others . After my husband died Mitch would call me to see if I wanted to talk or go to dinner . I knew that he was there for me as well as the countless other people he surrounded himself with . The antiques business and our community has lost a special man .I will miss him .

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