NEWS
IN MEMORIAM: Marvin Borman, 1923 - 2012
September 17, 2012
It is with great sadness and profound respect that we announce the passing of our founder, colleague and friend, Marvin Borman, on Saturday, September 15, 2012.
Marvin was born in 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was an Eagle Scout by age 13 and graduated from high school by age 15 as valedictorian. Marvin attended college at the University of Michigan, where he was tapped as a Michigamua, an honor he shared with other University of Michigan greats like President Gerald Ford and playwright Arthur Miller. It was also at Michigan where he met the love of his life, Betty. Marvin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1943 and saw active duty as a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps that same year, having enlisted after his graduation from college. He was later promoted to Captain and fought in the battles of Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. Deeply patriotic, Marvin did not like to talk about the war, saying only that it was his duty and honor to defend his country. When he returned from the war, he was accepted immediately into the Harvard Law School Class of 1949. After graduation, Marvin and Betty moved to Minneapolis where Marvin took a job working for Sam Maslon, another Harvard-educated lawyer, who had started work as a sole proprietor. In 1956, the small practice joined forces with a local litigation firm and created the partnership of Maslon Kaplan Edelman Joseph & Borman. Eventually the firm became Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP.
Marvin was a leading force in the local civic community. Of particular note, he served as Chairman for the United Way Campaign, and was a Member of both the Board and Executive Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and was both President and Chairman of the Board for Mt. Sinai Hospital and the University of Minnesota Foundation. Among many other honors, he received the United Way Distinguished Community Service Award in 1975, and was the first recipient of both the Cardozo Society's Sidney Borrows Lifetime Commitment Award in 2000 and the Minneapolis Jewish Federation's Amos Deinard Distinguished Community Leader Award in 2001. He received the Temple Israel Louis Gainsley Distinguished Service Award in 2002 and was honored with a Scoutmaster of Philanthropy Award in 2009.
Marvin was a regular and valued presence at Maslon throughout the years, and was known for paying particular attention to the personal milestones of those at Maslon. No holiday party was complete without his speech recognizing new marriages and the growing families of Maslon personnel. He held family picnics for the firm at his house and made a point of calling attorneys and staff members personally on their birthdays to wish them well. Marvin lived a life of extraordinary service to his country, the legal profession, the community, and the arts—a legacy for which we are both proud and grateful.
In addition to his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Borman, Marvin is survived by his three children, Jani Ross (Terry) of Mill Valley, CA, Tom Borman of Minneapolis, and Kim Borman (Steve Singer) of Lexington, MA; 5 grandchildren, Dana Rogers (Todd), Daniel Ross (Liz), Maggie Borman, Nicholas Singer and Matthew Singer; and 3 great-grandchildren.
Marvin was born in 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was an Eagle Scout by age 13 and graduated from high school by age 15 as valedictorian. Marvin attended college at the University of Michigan, where he was tapped as a Michigamua, an honor he shared with other University of Michigan greats like President Gerald Ford and playwright Arthur Miller. It was also at Michigan where he met the love of his life, Betty. Marvin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1943 and saw active duty as a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps that same year, having enlisted after his graduation from college. He was later promoted to Captain and fought in the battles of Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. Deeply patriotic, Marvin did not like to talk about the war, saying only that it was his duty and honor to defend his country. When he returned from the war, he was accepted immediately into the Harvard Law School Class of 1949. After graduation, Marvin and Betty moved to Minneapolis where Marvin took a job working for Sam Maslon, another Harvard-educated lawyer, who had started work as a sole proprietor. In 1956, the small practice joined forces with a local litigation firm and created the partnership of Maslon Kaplan Edelman Joseph & Borman. Eventually the firm became Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP.
Marvin was a leading force in the local civic community. Of particular note, he served as Chairman for the United Way Campaign, and was a Member of both the Board and Executive Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and was both President and Chairman of the Board for Mt. Sinai Hospital and the University of Minnesota Foundation. Among many other honors, he received the United Way Distinguished Community Service Award in 1975, and was the first recipient of both the Cardozo Society's Sidney Borrows Lifetime Commitment Award in 2000 and the Minneapolis Jewish Federation's Amos Deinard Distinguished Community Leader Award in 2001. He received the Temple Israel Louis Gainsley Distinguished Service Award in 2002 and was honored with a Scoutmaster of Philanthropy Award in 2009.
Marvin was a regular and valued presence at Maslon throughout the years, and was known for paying particular attention to the personal milestones of those at Maslon. No holiday party was complete without his speech recognizing new marriages and the growing families of Maslon personnel. He held family picnics for the firm at his house and made a point of calling attorneys and staff members personally on their birthdays to wish them well. Marvin lived a life of extraordinary service to his country, the legal profession, the community, and the arts—a legacy for which we are both proud and grateful.
In addition to his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Borman, Marvin is survived by his three children, Jani Ross (Terry) of Mill Valley, CA, Tom Borman of Minneapolis, and Kim Borman (Steve Singer) of Lexington, MA; 5 grandchildren, Dana Rogers (Todd), Daniel Ross (Liz), Maggie Borman, Nicholas Singer and Matthew Singer; and 3 great-grandchildren.