Albert J. Boro, a former San Rafael mayor and decadeslong public servant, has died.
Mr. Boro died on Sunday from natural causes, said his son Albert J. Boro Jr. He was 89.
“He appreciated the opportunity to serve and was dedicated to using local politics to improve the quality of living in the area,” said his son, a resident of San Francisco.
Maureen Boro, Mr. Boro’s daughter and a resident of San Rafael, said that whenever she spoke to downtown merchants and residents, they were effusive about his efforts on their behalf.
“He was trying to help all of them succeed,” she said. “He was always trying to help the city succeed.”
Mr. Boro was a public servant and elected official from 1971 to 2011. He spent 16 years on the city’s planning commission, four years on the City Council and served as mayor for 20 years. Those that knew him said he consistently earned praise as one of the most well-loved mayors in the state and during his public life earned an expansive list of commendations and accolades.
During his tenure, he led the development of landmark city projects, the preservation of the Rafael Film Center and the development of new housing and commercial opportunities in the downtown district.
He was proud of the renovation of the Pickleweed Park Community Center, which brought services to the underserved Canal neighborhood. The center was renamed the Albert J. Boro Community Center in 2012.
He also served the county on the board of the Golden Gate Bridge District, including a stint as president. Additionally, he served on the boards of the SMART train, the Marin County Fair and the Central Marin Sanitation Agency, according to a city proclamation honoring him as citizen of the year in 2012.
Gary Phillips, a longtime member of the San Rafael City Council, earned Mr. Boro’s endorsement as mayor and succeeded him in the role. Phillips served as mayor for two terms after being elected in 2012.
“His creativity was outstanding. His dedication to the city was beyond reproach for 20 years,” Phillips said. “He had the best interests of everyone within the city. I take my hat off for the dedication he had for the city of San Rafael.””
Mayor Kate Colin called the Boro community center a testament to his wisdom and kindness.
“He was a man of action and got things done and buildings built,” Colin said. “He was a mentor to me and many in our city and we will miss him dearly.”
Paul Cohen served as a San Rafael City Council member for four terms while Boro was mayor.
“Al was a visionary and selfless leader who always put the community first. All of us who live here owe him a debt of gratitude,” Cohen said.
Mr. Boro was born and raised in San Francisco and earned a degree in business administration from the University of San Francisco. He lived in San Rafael with his wife Pat since 1966. He served as an executive with Pacific Bell.
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Gary Ragghianti, former San Rafael city attorney, said he was privileged to call Mr. Boro a friend for two decades.
“A wonderful, decent, intelligent man who served his community with grace and distinction for many years,” Ragghianti said.
City Attorney Rob Epstein said Mr. Boro loomed so large in the cultural makeup of the city that Epstein recalled meeting him when he was just in elementary school.
“He was the assistant scout master of my scout troop in San Rafael,” Epstein said. “Of course, I knew him better when I became city attorney. It just goes way back.
“I’ve worked with some amazing public servants over the years, but I can’t think of anyone that served with the tenure that he did and the amount of contributions that he had,” he said.
Mr. Boro is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patricia Boro; his sister, Barbara Miles of San Francisco; his four children, Maureen Boro, Albert J. Boro Jr., Michael Boro of New York City and Gena Granucci of La Jolla; and two grandchildren, Jessica Granucci and Madeline Granucci.
Plans for a public memorial service are being developed, the family said.