On Tuesday, July 6th 2021, Mario “Al” Boragine, Jr. loving husband and father of three children, passed away at the age of 95. Al was born in Norwood, Massachusetts on April 28th, 1926 to Mario and Kay Boragine. He graduated from Walpole High School in 1944 as the senior class vice president. 

 

Al eagerly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during his senior year at the age of 17 and served three years from1944 to 1946 during the WW II campaigns in the Pacific and China theaters and was discharged with the rank of corporal in 1946. His experience in serving our country as a Marine defined him as a person for the rest of his life.  Semper Fi was a motto he carried throughout his life, showing in all he did.

 

Al married Ruth Bennett in 1949 and together they raised their three sons, George “Arthur” Rafuse of Murrells Inlet, SC, Al Boragine III of Magallaway, ME, and Bruce Boragine of Taunton, MA. 

 

He began a 35-year career with New England Telephone in December 1946 back home in Walpole, MA where he began his life with Ruth and their children. Al was promoted through the ranks of Ma Bell and eventually retired as a Plant Service Manager in 1981 at the age of 55.

 

 Like all good Bostonians, Ruth and Al retired to Cape Cod, living in South Yarmouth.  He took great pride in how infrequently he crossed the bridge!  With Ruth’s declining health they made the move off Cape to Norton, MA in 2004.  Ruth passed on November 4, 2007 after 58 years of marriage and Al quickly returned to his beloved Cape Cod and has lived in Harwich Port since 2010.

.

 During his long retirement, Al remained very active in the community, volunteering, and helping his neighbors, no matter the task.  He was always a man of faith having been a member of Arnold Mills United Methodist Church in Cumberland, RI and has been a member of the South Yarmouth United Methodist Church for over 40 years. His extensive volunteer work at the Church earned him the nickname, “Mr. Wonderful”.

 

 Al was a member of the Azure Lodge of Masons in Walpole, the Howard Lodge in South Yarmouth, and the Pilgrim Lodge in Harwich.  He also remained a very active Marine, rarely missing a parade or event in his dress blues.  Al was a proud member of the Marine Corp League, Det #125 of Hyannis and was a charter member of the Marine Corps League of Norfolk County.

 

A funeral service will be held at the South Yarmouth United Methodist Church, Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA at 2 pm on Monday, July, 12, 2021.  Interment with military honors will be in Knollwood Memorial Park, Canton MA at 11:30 A.M. on Tuesday, July, 13, 2021.

 

To the family of Al Boragine, I had the privilege of meeting Al while volunteering at the Harwich Conservation Trust. We often worked together clearing brush and helping with land surveying. He was such a kind and generous man, and just a very interesting person to talk to. And I was always amazed at how much energy he had. Please accept my condolences on your loss. He truly lived up to the name of being part of "the greatest generation". With kind regards, Gus Romano

Al was a wonderful person whom I met when he was a volunteer. He had a positive and upbeat attitude and could strike up a conversation with anyone. I so enjoyed being a guest at his birthday parties that were crowded with adoring fans. I am so grateful that I met Al. He was a true example of how to be your best.

Al was a wonderful person whom I met when he was a volunteer. He had a positive and upbeat attitude and could strike up a conversation with anyone. I so enjoyed being a guest at his birthday parties that were crowded with adoring fans. I am so grateful that I met Al. He was a true example of how to be your best.

I had the pleasure of working with Al on a couple of print projects, the last being a book about his Marine Corps service. He was a great guy and I am proud to have met him. I have digital files of all the pictures and documents and it would be my pleasure to send them to any family member who would like them. There would be no charge for anything I can do. Rich

Al was a wonderful person whom I met when he was a volunteer. He had a positive and upbeat attitude and could strike up a conversation with anyone. I so enjoyed being a guest at his birthday parties that were crowded with adoring fans. I am so grateful that I met Al. He was a true example of how to be your best.