The Rev. Dorothy S. Boroush

The Rev. Dorothy S. Boroush, parish minister and passionate activist for women’s rights, died on June 14, 2014 at the age of 88 in Englewood, Colorado, at the home of her daughter Gretchen, surrounded by flowers, family, and friends.

Dorothy was born on October 3, 1925, in Tiffin, Ohio, to George Alfred Stinchcomb and Ruth Elise Brand Stinchcomb. She was graduated with a B.A. in Theater from the State University of Ohio in 1977 and went on to attain an M. Div. from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1980.

After graduation, Dorothy was ordained to the Unitarian Universalist Ministry by the First Unitarian Church of Shaker Heights, Ohio, in 1980. Shortly thereafter, she was called to serve as minister to the Emerson Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (now Emerson Church Unitarian Universalist) of Troy, Michigan, from 1980 to 1984. She then served as interim minister to the First Parish Church of Groton, Mass, from 1984 to 1985; the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson, of Hudson, Mass, from 1985 to 1986; and the Unitarian Society of New Haven, CT, from 1986 to 1987. In 1987, she accepted the position of District Executive to the Ballou Channing District, serving 49 parishes in southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island until 1994.

She formally retired from ministry in 1995, but eventually regretted the “premature decision” and went on to serve as interim minister of the Foxborough Universalist Church in 1999. Dorothy also served as “minister-on-call” for a number of New England congregations, stepping in for other ministers who were ill or called away. She loved preaching at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House of Provincetown, MA, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard, the Bell Street Chapel in Providence, RI and many others. She led Sunday worship services at the First Parish Church of Taunton, MA, from July 2009 to April 2012, while the congregation was without a settled minister.

Throughout her ministry, The Rev. Ms. Boroush dedicated time and service to numerous denominational organizations. She served on the Ohio-Meadville District’s Commissioned Lay Leaders Committee and the Holmes-Weatherly Award Panel. She served as Chair of the Michigan Extension Committee for two years, President of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association’s Michigan Chapter for two years, and Co-Chair of the Central Massachusetts’ Youth Adult Committee (YAC) for one year. She volunteered at the Doolittle Home of Foxboro, MA, and served on its board for a number of years.

Dorothy was a resolute advocate for women’s rights. Prior to entering the ministry, she worked as Director of Education and Public Relations for Pre-Term, a women’s health clinic in Cleveland, OH. She was a charter member of the National Organization for Women’s Cleveland Chapter, and served on the organization’s board and public relations committee. She served as member of the Cleveland Abortion Rights Action League; and member of the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights (now the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice).

Dorothy was very involved with the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Heritage Society (UUWHS). She served on the Society’s Board of Directors from June 1995 to June 2001. She was a contributor and editor to a series of short biographic descriptions of UU women, titled “Notable Universalist and Unitarian Women,” and was the editor of the last edition in 2000. She was actively involved with programs put on by the UUWHS and was involved with the development of UUWHS calendars. She sponsored, wrote, and edited the 2002 edition of this calendar that included Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the first woman to be ordained in our liberal religious tradition.

The arts and creativity were powerful forces in Dorothy’s life. More than 15 years of her youth were dedicated to the formal study of piano and acting. She was a well-known actor and director in community theater throughout her life, much of it to critical acclaim. Her classical piano training was sufficient to consider a professional position per her instructors. She wrote poetry and in the 1970/80’s served as artistic director for the published poetry performance troupe, “Big Mama”. She also wrote, directed, and performed a one-act play about the life of the Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, which was staged in a number of Unitarian Universalist churches, also to great acclaim for its historic educational and creative aspects pertinent to the UU tradition.

Until nearly the end of her life, at age 86, Dorothy was still acting minister at First Parish Church in Taunton, Mass., where congregants there remember her as “a woman of deep faith,” “dedicated,” “generous,” and “committed to the long-term health of the congregation.”

Dorothy’s family remembers her as a gardener, a collector of ‘spiritual rocks’, a lover of the color purple, a feminist, poetess, political activist, a bird and tomato lover. She was a singer of silly songs and crocheted works of art during meetings. Her mission was to leave this world in a better place.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Gretchen E. Boroush; her sons, Eric D. Boroush and Kurt A. Boroush; and granddaughter Janice E. Boroush as well as her brother Dr. Thomas G. Stinchcomb, and nephews James, William, David, and Dan Stinchcomb and their wonderful families.

A memorial service was held on September 13, 2014, at First Parish Bridgewater Unitarian Universalist Church.

Memorial donations are encouraged to the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society, 27 Grove St., Scituate MA 02066.

Condolences may be sent to the family via Eric Boroush, #2 Gore St., Boston, MA 02120.