A Tribute to Ira Bornstein z”l (1954-2023), the Other Half of The Traveling Bornstein Team

 

Few people can marry the love of their life at age 18 and still be married 48+ years later. I consider myself very fortunate to have been Ira’s best friend for that entire period. Ira loved raising our four sons—Josh (Rachael Israel), Adam (Rachel), Aaron (Candice), and Jordan (Kayla Garthwaite)— and watching our family grow.

Just weeks before his death, he held our latest addition, our seventh grandchild, Oliver. Until he lost the ability to use the left side of his body in early January, he enjoyed playing with our older grandchildren— Avram (Avi), Amari, Bode, Asher, Max, and Isabella (Izzy). Our entire family will miss Ira’s love of life and his tremendous positivity. 

Ira and I met in 1974 while we were both attending the University of Colorado in Boulder. Since neither one of us wanted a long distance relationship dependent on letter writing and expensive long distance phone calls, we returned to Chicago. At CU, Ira had completed his history degree in 3 1/2 with two honors— magna cum laude and with distinction.

We were married shortly thereafter. In 1978, Ira graduated from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law as a member of the Loyola Law Journal. We lived for 25 years in Illinois. In 2000, we made a midlife decision to improve our quality of life by relocating to Colorado.

In Chicago, Ira handled trials (both jury and non-jury), administrative hearings, arbitrations, and mediations throughout the country.  He has also served as an arbitrator, a mediator, and handled appeals in both state and federal appellate courts throughout the country. Martindale Hubbell rated him AV for many decades. He successfully argued before the Illinois and Colorado Supreme Courts, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States.

Ira was exceptionally proud of the fact that he was licensed in 3 states— Colorado, Illinois and New York. He was also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth, Seventh and Tenth Circuits, and the U.S. District Courts for the District of Colorado, for the Northern District of Illinois (member of trial bar), for the District of Nebraska, and for the Central District of Illinois and had dozens of reported cases. In 2018, Ira received an invitation to be inducted as a fellow into Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA), a prestigious group of 1,200 accomplished construction attorneys. He was an incredible litigator who won far more cases than he lost. 

Our travels became more frequent after Ira suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2010 at Keystone Resort. While he still continued to practice law the focus shifted away from stressful complex litigation cases to business and tech law. His love of photography was enhanced when he took the role of photographer for my new brand, The Traveling Bornsteins. 

My published travel and lifestyle stories revolved around the plethora of digital images that the two of us took while engaging in active adventures throughout the world. I also enjoyed sharing stories about our adventures in Colorado, especially in Summit County. Over time, my stories gained greater exposure and received numerous NATJA travel writing awards.  

In July 2020, Ira was diagnosed with glioblastoma, terminal brain cancer. He successfully coped with the Standard of Care treatments—a craniotomy, 6 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy followed by six months of chemotherapy. Unlike many glioblastoma patients who struggle after the diagnosis and pass away within the first year to year and a half, we skied in 2021 and 2022 and also resumed traveling.

Just weeks before his glioblastoma diagnosis, I signed a contract to write 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die. Due to COVID restrictions and the demands associated with Ira’s care, Reedy Press granted a couple of book extensions. This award-winning book was dedicated to Ira and published in September 2022.  Ira insisted that I complete this project even though it took away from our time together. He helped me market the book from October through December.

To bring awareness to terminal brain cancer, Ira and I became ambassadors for the Optune device that he wore on his head for more than two years. Ira was interviewed numerous times by print media, radio and TV journalists. He repeatedly encouraged others to embrace life rather than cancer. Ira’s perseverance and positive mindset inspired others not to give up. For more information visit my For Glio page on the sandrabornstein.com site.

We also raised money for the National Brain Tumor Society by participating in the organization’s annual Colorado walk last fall. Our family’s team—Keep Moving; No Regrets raised close to $19,000, the second highest total for the event. Our family proudly walked around Denver’s Sloan Lake to draw attention to brain tumors. On September 23, we will walk in Ira’s memory. Please consider supporting our team by making a contribution. You can use this link to access our team page.

For 2 1/2 years, Ira was fortunate to have a remarkable quality of life, something few glioblastoma patients are able to accomplish. From early 2021 until April of this year, we traveled throughout the world. Sometimes COVID restrictions made these journeys more challenging.

Ira did not let his glioblastoma diagnosis stop him from leading an active life or engaging in the things that he loved. We went horseback riding in the winter at Vista Verde Guest Ranch in Colorado. At Arizona’s Civana Wellness Resort and Spa, we tried aerial yoga. We jumped on mini trampolines and hiked up steep rock faces at Red Mountain Resort in Utah. During the winter months, Ira skied down challenging slopes and snowshoed at altitude.

He enjoyed snorkeling while vacationing in the Caribbean, Florida, and Hawaii. Waterfall hikes were his top pick during our Silversea Cruises intensive summer sailing around Iceland. Our experiences in The Retreat aboard Celebrity’s Apex and Edge cruise ships stand out as stellar memories. Ira’s favorite vacation was our May 2022 Israel My Way trip to Israel. During that trip, we had the incredible opportunity to meet Professor Yoram Palti, the inventor of the Optune device and a recipient of the 2022 Israel Prize. 

In January 2023, An inoperable tumor in his thalamus was detected. This aggressive tumor caused an avalanche of debilitating symptoms. New rounds of radiation, chemotherapy, Avastin and medicinal cannabis were unable to stop the cancer cells from destroying his brain.

After waging a courageous battle against glioblastoma for almost 3 years, Ira Jeffrey Bornstein passed away on July 21. 

Ira’s motto — Keep Moving; No Regrets — will not be forgotten.

Ira is survived by Sandy, and their 4 sons – Joshua Bornstein (Rachael Israel), Adam Bornstein (Rachel Spatt Bornstein), Aaron Bornstein (Candice), Jordan Bornstein (Kayla Garthwaite) and 7 grandchildren- Avram, Amari, Bode, Asher, Max, Isabella, and Oliver. He is also survived by his mother, Shirley (Dickler) Bornstein, and 4 brothers, Bruce Bornstein (Maureen), Ian Bornstein, Scott Bornstein (Ruth), & Mitchell Bornstein.

Funeral services were held in Boulder, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the National Brain Tumor Society, Baskin Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program, or Collier Hospice Hospital.

Excerpts from Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny’s Eulogy at Boulder’s Congregation Bonai Shalom

Ira Bornstein was himself such a man: an ethical man, an upright man, with a clear internal compass – a man who would do what he knew to be right and just, and was not concerned what others thought about that. A modest man, and humble, who enjoyed life’s wholesome, simple pleasures. A family man, a man who loved the outdoors – who, planted like a tree besides streams of water, flourished and showed his strength and goodness, and who brought forth fruits which have themselves now born fruit.His life was, in many ways, exemplary.

During the eulogy, Rabbi Sarah read a letter that Ian, one of Ira’s brothers, sent to me when Ira was losing his eyesight in the spring. Here is one paragraph from that letter.

I guess that ultimately nobody is stronger than GBM.  It seems that is the reality of the condition.  But here I have to state that you beat it back for three incredible years.  Dear Brother that is both amazing and commendable.  It is a testament to your physical, emotional, and psychological strength.  A testament to your desire to live.  And live you have indeed done.  GBM is both heartless and unrelenting.  But you have been unrelenting as well.  You have never wavered in your approach to this invincible foe.  I deeply admire you for how you have continued to live your life with GBM.  You should be an inspiration to your family.  You have never stopped being the person that you wanted to be.  

Many people have expressed their condolences after hearing about Ira’s death. I am sharing a selection on this page as a tribute to Ira’s memory. If you’d like to add a condolence, please contact me at sandy@thetravelingbornsteins.com.

Family

We are sad to receive the news of Ira’s passing and grateful you let us know. We understand what a journey it has been for you and your family to confront and battle a diagnosis of glioblastoma. Nothing is harder…Ira and you were so brave and beat the odds with almost three years of life together. You amazed everyone…

Ira was blessed to have an amazing and devoted wife as well as a beautiful family and grandchildren. He loved and was loved…

With our love and deepest sympathy. May Ira’s memory be a blessing…Linda and Neill Brownstein

The service was a beautiful, heartfelt, and very touching tribute to Ira’s memory, which is for a blessing. Dr. Neal Dickler

 

Friends

Dear Sandra, Josh, Adam, Aaron & Jordan,  I’m so sorry to hear about Ira’s passing. I had the blessing of getting to know him a little bit this past month, he was a giant of the spirit. You and your families were everything to him, and I can’t begin to imagine the void that his passing has created for all of you. Sincerely, Rabbi Mendel

Dear Sandy, It is with such sadness that I write to you following Ira’s death.  You and Ira (ז”ל) were an inspiration as you both courageously encountered Ira’s terrible illness.  Most people I know who were so inflicted responded just with despair and anger.  You and Ira faced his illness with the determination that you would fight to conquer the disease or, at least, use the time from the onset of his illness to derive the very most from life.  With courage, you enjoyed meaningful time together, even though the time for enjoying life was so indefinite. You accompanied him in experiences that brought joy when total despair could have overwhelmed your spirits.  Sandy, I am repeating your own words expressed in your email written after Ira died. 

As you said, you married the love of your life and together you enjoyed life as long as you could.  That is what all of us need to do.  The positivity he showed in these past months and years of his illness must serve you as an example of what you must now do for yourself.  By showing that same positivity and determination, you will give a gift to your children and grandchildren so they, too, will have some idea of how to go forward when faced with adversity. To honor Ira for his courage and his love for you, you and your family will need to make a poster or picture so his words will always be in your thoughts.  “Keep Moving; No Regrets will not be forgotten.”

I know that this is a most difficult time for you and your family, but I hope you will all find the strength to balance your mourning Ira’s death with a celebration of the significant and inspiring life that he lived.  By celebrating his life and speaking of his strength, you find he is always present with you, guiding you along your next steps in life. 

I would like to conclude by expressing my admiration for you, Sandy. Motivated by your love that spirited your relationship with Ira throughout the years of your marriage, you were the soul mate and help mate that enhanced the life of Ira.  You will only enhance and extend those wonderful years together by allowing your memories of 48+ years of marriage to overwhelm the feelings of sadness that you experienced during this period of illness and are now experiencing in mourning his passing.  Time does not heal.  The healing force comes from the many years without illness and the 48+ years of life versus this intense period of sadness caused by death.  Allow the memories of the goodness of your marriage in and they will allow you to feel Ira’s presence as an actual presence in all you do.

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
May God comfort you and your family among the rest of those who are mourners among the people of Israel.With love, Bill. (Rabbi William Lebeau)

Baruch Dayan HaEmet. A lovely man who lived a loving life. My warmest embrace to each in the family. Watched the service this morning. What a powerful and lovely tribute. so many words spoken but the boys lift his spirit an brought him to life in a palpable way. Their characteristics and mannerisms also will keep him so close to all of you. Wishing you a true healing, which doe not imply wholeness, as you will always been depleted in a significant way, but I do wish you healing. Cantor Steve Stoehr

Business Acquaintances

I just wanted to say that I am so sorry for your loss. It was an honor getting to know you and Ira during your time at Rehab Without Walls. My thoughts are with you and your family. Siobhan Nelson, OT

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family. We are lucky to have known Ira. Kayla Smith, OT