David Alan Bordow

David Alan Bordow, May 2, 1954 - July 25, 2025 David Alan Bordow was born May 2, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Milton and Perle Bordow. David was a dedicated civil servant who always put the needs of others before his own. He was a kind soul and mentor to all, with friends in every corner of the world, and his influence and care was felt every day. David grew up in Milwaukee, and was the oldest of three siblings. He knew some of his closest friends, Tom and John, as early as elementary school, Maple Dale, and high school, Nicolet High School. David graduated from the University of Oregon in 1978, where he met some of his best friends Stan, Dixie, and Doug. It was in Eugene where he fell in love with the outdoors, a passion that he had his whole life. David loved sharing stories of his travels, tales of losing gear on adventures, cars breaking down on mountains, countless shows seen on the road. He then graduated from California Western School of Law in 1981. It was here where he developed his devotion to helping others, a trait he carried with him throughout 33 years of practicing law. David’s life in Milwaukee was highlighted by the practice he and his brother, Ira, shared with his father. He was a regular fixture at Milwaukee’s Children’s court, but rarely turned away anyone in need of legal help, and became known for this dedication. He established lifelong friendships and relationships, and became a pillar of Milwaukee’s law community. David loved maps and geography. He took countless trips to Oregon and California, Utah and New Mexico, and always brought back a new ski guide or topographic map. Nothing pleased him more than reliving these memorable trips than studying the maps and literature he brought back. He knew the answer to any question about geography and map reading. David was immensely proud of his son, EB. They watched jeopardy together almost nightly, listened to new music, played cards, and gardened. He taught EB to always learn, no matter the topic -cars, airplanes, maps, baseball - always learn, and EB is that person today. You could always catch David riding his bike around Shorewood, or enjoying some beautiful weather with a strong espresso. He listened to baseball and basketball games on the radio, often cursing the Bucks and Brewers on their poor performances, but praising the best ones. He loved music of all sorts, especially the Grateful Dead and Los Lobos. David is survived by his sister Mimi and son EB, step-daughter Cassandra Rodriguez and nieces and nephews Jeffrey, Melanie, Arielle, and Ross, and by countless friends, confidants, and clients. He was proceeded in death by his brother Ira, and his mother and father, Perle and Milton. David’s family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff at Columbia St. Mary’s, and all the nurses and aides at Ascension who provided him friendship and positivity. His family also wishes the greatest thanks to two of his best friends, Robb Marcus and Al Polan, who provided care, comfort, and counsel near the end of his life. David will be missed by all who knew him. His family asks that you join them for a celebration of David’s life on October 18th in Milwaukee. More details will be shared at a later time. In lieu of flowers, David’s family asks that you consider making a donation to one of these organizations that were meaningful to him: https://legalaction.org/donate/ https://store.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=v.dsp_donation