Obituary of Hugo J. Borst

On April 24, 2020, Hugo John Borst, Jr., steady Gideon, and beloved patron of the Oakland Diner, passed away in a sound and gentle sleep at 8:49 PM in The Valley Hospital (Ridgewood, NJ). He was not alone, guided to rest by his eldest daughter, who gave his strong spirit permission to go home. He was 77 years old. Born in Paterson, NJ, amongst busy brick buildings and the fresh flurry of World War II, Hugo, known to most as “John”, grew into a thin and keen-minded young man. His mischievous personality challenged any photograph, imprinting the slight uptick of his eyebrow and the legendary swoop of his hair to instant memory. He was a charming smoker and a fast driver, seeking backstreet races with heavy cars and good friends. He would outgrow the cigarettes, but never the hereditary lead foot, which made his father proud. After graduating from Eastern Christian High School (North Haledon, NJ) in 1961, John married his sweetheart Sheryl F. Dykhouse in 1963, further solidifying the "it couple" status they enjoyed among their peers. Together, they cultivated an intense relationship that flooded two generations, nourishing adventure, laughs, and the ability to be raw, real, and loud. Real loud. Conversations in the Borst family continue to be an exercise in precision and impact, leaving the untrained individual lost in a cacophony of topics. And much like the man himself, everyone who participates is vocal and well-informed. Hugo J. Borst, Jr., was a current resident of Pompton Lakes, NJ, having resided in Midland Park, NJ, and Lantana, FL, prior. He attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology for drafting, and last worked as a Plumbing Sub-Code Official at Delaware Township, NJ, a job he genuinely enjoyed. John was a man of faith and a long-time member of Hawthorne Gospel Church (Hawthorne, NJ). Recently, he could be found attending Liquid Church in Parsippany, NJ. As a Gideon, he had a glove box full of pocket-sized New Testaments, hot and ready to move. An inventory perfectly suited to his bold and suave approach with strangers. He affected lives wherever he went, inheriting "brothers," "sons," and "daughters," from the people he interacted with daily, adding them to his social family. Throughout his life, John seeded and built a repertoire of experiences. From artist to plumber to entrepreneur and collector, he was never short of talent or ingenuity—Most evident in the extensive vocabulary he could knit together on a whim. He liked to impress, presenting memorable lines such as: "Sonata hot rod," "a monument to a mistake," and "a voracious duo of diner mavens" for our appreciation. And while John valued his cap guns and cars, nothing fulfilled him more than being involved with his family. The family gallery wall he created in his "man cave" was prominent and carefully hung, reflecting the love and pride he had for his children and grandchildren. In his later years, as time took bits of him here and there, editing his height and changing his appearance, it did little to shave his stubborn spirit. His skin was ruddier, his beard snowy, but his eyebrow still crook'd how it wanted, and his hair remained perfectly in place. We will miss his infectious, hoarse, he-he. His stories. His wild escapades. His family dinner prayers. John remained true to himself and never contradicted his beliefs. He was a fixed and fundamental part of our hearts and memories we never thought we would live without. Hugo J. Borst, Jr., is predeceased by his wife Sheryl and parents Hugo and Janet Borst. He is survived by his brother Ronald, and brother Allan, son Jeff and his wife Heidi, daughter Lisa Tanis and her husband Neil, daughter Pamela Schluter and her husband Thorsten. He was known as "Poppy" by the seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter that he leaves behind. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Gideons International (https://www.gideons.org/donate).