Obituary: Mari Borsuk

Mari Borsuk passed away in early December 2017 on Kislev 18, 5778.
An artist and teacher, her life was filled with beautiful art (much of it her own), great food, a close family and a family of friends. She is survived by her daughter, Lynne Borsuk; her son-in-law, Rob Smulian; her beloved grandson, Jacob Smulian; many well-loved nieces and nephews and a host of adored and adoring friends.

Mari lived abroad and was a teacher in Madrid, Spain for many years. She was married to Dr. Arnold Dunn at the Rabbinical Court in Rabat, Morocco. They had one child, Lynne. Upon moving back to the United States, they divorced, and she later married Dr. Charles Borsuk.

The family lived in Green Bay, Wis., and then in Fairfax, Va. In 1972, they moved to Clearwater, Fla. Dr. Charles Borsuk passed away in 1980. Their son, Andrew Borsuk, predeceased her.

Get The AJT Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

Mari was an active member, supporter and volunteer for a wide range of causes in the Tampa Bay area, including the Dali Museum, the Clearwater Jazz Festival, Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Clearwater Marine Science Center, and Temple B’nai Israel.
Mari was passionate about the arts and had several art studios over the years, including at Studio 1212, Trailside Artist Colony and Imago Art Group. She especially loved teaching art and was a much-loved instructor at the Dunedin Fine Art Center and Imago.

She received a Lifetime Honor Award from the Florida Watercolor Society, a Daler Rowney U.S.A. Award, and an American Artist magazine award for her painting entitled “Portals of Delight.” She exhibited her art at the Professional Association of Visual Artists, Gulf Coast Museum of Art, ClearWater Artist Studios, Syd Entel Galleries, City Art Gallery in Greenville, N.C., Studio 1212 and Trailside Artist Colony.

She lived her life with passion, boldly, and lived uncompromisingly on her own terms. She was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.

If you are moved to make a donation in Mari’s memory, please consider the Humane Society of Pinellas County, (www.humanesocietyofpinellas.org/); Temple B’nai Israel (www.tbiclearwater.org/); or the Dunedin Fine Arts Center (www.dfac.org/).