Bill Bordonaro
William Bordonaro
20 May 1952 - 07 Oct 2024
Clubs & Associations
Boots in Squares
Chi-Town Squares
Cleveland City Country Dancers
Remembrances
Very sorry to share that Bill Bordonaro passed away in peace last week after a four year battle with dementia. His partner John Mikenas was with him when he passed away at home. Bill danced with us about 2018 and 2019, re-graduating with us. I first met Bill in the early 90s when he danced with the Cleveland City Country dancers. He was also very active in PSGMC; we would have great conversations when I would drive him to rehearsals and concerts. The funeral will be on Sunday, Nov 3 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. Gathering at 1:00 the service at 2:00 and a reception will follow in the church hall.
Obituary
Rev. William J. Bordonaro passed into eternal life on Monday, October 7, 2024, at the home in Cathedral City, California that he shared with his husband, Rev. John L. Mikenas III.
Bill was born on May 20, 1952, in Astoria, Queens, New York. He was a graduate of Stuyvesant High School and Queens College. He was part of the student body and faculty who left Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO (Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod), in 1974. He graduated from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and was ordained in 1980.
He served several Lutheran parishes in the state of Ohio. He received Privilege of Call from the United Church of Christ and served Bethany UCC in Chicago from 2003 until his retirement in 2014.
He and his husband John were married at Bethany UCC on September 20, 2014. They retired to California where they lived for the next ten years. They found a church home together at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Palm Desert, CA, where their talents and experiences in ministry were welcomed by the congregation.
Bill sang with the North Coast Men’s Chorus in Cleveland, Ohio, and in the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus. In California he sang with both Modern Men and the Palm Spring’s Gay Men’s Chorus. In June 2019, Bill was one of the singers chosen to represent the PSGMC at “Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall50” at Carnegie Hall, New York City. His participation in that concert was one of the highlights of Bill’s life.
Bill was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. He shared his love of baseball with his husband John, with whom he took baseball vacations. He also had a profound statistical knowledge of songs of the rock era and country music, especially the songs’ placements on popularity charts.
He will be deeply missed by all who loved him.
Visitation will be held Sunday, November 3, 2024, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm and the funeral service will be held from 2:00-3:00 pm at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 47535 California 74, Palm Desert CA. A reception will be held after the service in the Fellowship Hall from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. A private graveside service will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024.
Photos
A great portrait is more than a matter of verisimilitude. A really good painter can capture something of the personality and character of his or her subject that escapes the camera lens. One of Bill's former parishioners painted this marvelous portrait of him years ago. Not only does it express the sheer joy of the man – just look at that wonderful smile! – but also literally surrounds him with symbols of some of the most important things in his life: his faith, music, and baseball. In the past, whenever I've seen this portrait where it hangs in Bill & John's home, I couldn't help but be delighted. From now on, that delight will be tempered with sadness. But the delight will nevertheless remain in our cherished memories of him.
With his partner John Mikenas (L)
With his partner John Mikenas (L)
