William "Bill" Charles Borla

William “Bill” Charles Borla, of Torrington, CT, was a shining example of how to live a life full of gratitude. He passed away peacefully at home at the age of 86 on August 22, 2026, leaving behind family and friends who felt lucky to have known him.

He was thankful for wonderful life experiences like kayaking and boating with the family and dogs at Camp Kirk, Christmas Eve singalongs, fourteen mile runs on Sundays at White Woods in Litchfield, convertible car rides with Wendy, bike rides and camping trips, bird watching, humbly becoming a running legend who quietly won numerous national titles, his mother’s homemade pies, musical performances by his kids and grandkids, daily mass and the rosary, the annual family Pink Lady Relay Team event, the iconic cross country trip with Pete and the Ellis family, Borla Family picnics at Art and Sheila’s house on Highland Lake, family beach vacations, runs at Hillside Cemetery, lunches with friends from his civil engineering days, cheering on the family team at the Torrington Road Race, and the camaraderie of being with other runners in countless races and relays from the Litchfield Hills Road Race to the National Senior Track and Field Championships.

Bill was grateful for his loving family. He is survived by his daughter Tracy Kirk and her husband Michael, daughter Cathy McQuade and her husband Joe, son Peter Borla, brother Arthur and his wife Sheila, sister Carol, grandchildren Caitlin, Julia, and Nancy McQuade and Taylor and Grayson Borla, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and cherished friends and neighbors. Bill was predeceased by his beloved “excellent running spouse” Mary Ann, adored daughter Wendy, hardworking parents William and Philomena, and big brother Dick and his wife Annesa.

Bill wanted to thank Dr. Talsania and her team at Smilow Cancer Center, Dr. James Devanney, Fay and the team at The Key, Jodi, Michele, Chuck, Luan, Heather, and the hospice and homecare teams at SVNA, and Maxwell and the team at Heaven’s Hands for the excellent care they provided. Bill also wanted to thank Father Emmanuel, Monsignor Tucker, Chaplain Rich Murphy, and his cousin Susan Borla Cook for pastoral and Eucharistic Ministry visits.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, (St. John Paul the Great Parish) 160 Main St., Torrington, CT.  Relatives and friends are asked to meet directly at St. Francis of Assisi Church.  Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery.  There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, Bill requested that people donate to Oak Hill, 120 Holcomb Street, Hartford, CT 06112 or at oakhillct.org/donate or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929 or at stjude.org/donate.