Phoebe Parker Borman

On September 18, 2022, Phoebe Parker Borman. beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and sister passed from this earth at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, after a long, debilitating illness. She resided on Chapman Road on Put-in-Bay (PIB), Ohio where she owned and managed Borman’s Cottages. Until recently, she also maintained an off-season home in Port Clinton, Ohio. Phoebe was born June 2, 1936, in Hamilton, Ohio to proud parents, Leo and Mary Rosselot. The second youngest of eight children (Charles, Mary Margaret, Trudy, Edward, Patsy, Edith, and “Phoebe’s little shadow” Gabrielle). Phoebe was small in stature and known for taking her own lead. These traits she carried throughout her life as can be attested to by anyone who accompanied her to the mall, amusement park, group touring event, new town, etc. and played the” Where’s Phoebe/Phoebe game”. It’s a bit like “Where’s Waldo”, but involves a lot more exercise.

In 1954 Phoebe graduated from Mount Notre Dame Academy and fondly spoke of her experiences with the nuns managing the school. She then entered the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in English and French. During her college years she worked summers on PIB, Ohio for Chick Linker’s Crescent Hotel and Dining Room. She fondly told the story how hard she and the other waitresses worked to talk customers out of ordering the restaurant’s finest cut of beef, cooked “well done”. When unsuccessful, upon receiving the order the chief cook would barge into the dining room brandishing a meat cleaver, demanding “WHO ordered the New York Strip well done??”.

From 1958-60 Phoebe taught English and French at Carlyle High School near Dayton, Ohio. During this time, she began dating ferry boat captain William (Bill) Parker and they were married 1961-68. They settled on PIB where she taught English at the Put-in-Bay high school during the 1961-62 seasons. One of her fondest memories was accompanying Bill while bringing the ferry boat, MV Yankee Clipper, from Sanibel Island, Florida, up through the intercoastal water and New York Barge Canal, into Lake Erie and PIB. She described it as a “grand adventure” and referred to it as one of her greatest trips. In the years that followed, the Parker household filled with the sounds of pitter-pattering little feet as Brian (1964), Scott (1965) and Deborah (1968) joined the family.

In 1970 Phoebe married John (Bullet) Borman following a trying courtship where the long-time bachelor was subjected to trial by fire from two precocious, highly energetic, window breaking boys. They moved to the farming town of Wauseon, Ohio and daughter Leslie joined the family in 1974. Phoebe worked on and off as a substitute teacher, picture framer, full-time housewife and mom. She also authored several unpublished short stories and novellas. The family spent summers on PIB during which John and Phoebe were highly involved in the PIB Yacht Club and annual regatta races. She also supported his considerable involvement with the PIB Antique Car Club and weekly car parades. Their cottage on Chapman Road was always open to family, friends, sailors, and car enthusiasts; and for decades a sign hung on their porch greeting visitors with “Welcome to John’s Bar, Proudly Serving Whatever You Bring”. Along Chapman Road everyone knew Phoebe’s yappy little Jack Russell terrier, Deena, who’s scrappy, independent, rule-bending personality tickled Phoebe to no end.

Throughout her life, Phoebe was an active crusader for various social and environmental causes, unafraid in taking on big business or local and state officials. In 1996 Phoebe and John moved to Port Clinton, Ohio and she joined the Port Clinton Playmakers Civic Theater. She was composer, lyricist, and librettist for two musicals, “Ohio the Musical” and “Rosie’s”, writing the music, lyrics, and dialog, as well as producing and directing them. Thousands of people in the NW Ohio area have seen these musicals from various venues. In addition, Phoebe wrote and directed six plays working with area venues to present them as dinner theater events. In her spare time, she served as a volunteer dog walker for the local Humane Society and for many years she rang the bell for the Salvation Army. Phoebe unfailingly donated $300 or more each month to various charities, while tenaciously refusing to improve her comfort by turning on the summer air conditioner as doing so “would increase her electric bill”.

Phoebe’s physical endurance noticeably decreased in 2019 and in March 2020, she suffered an undiagnosed illness after which she consistently experienced shortness of breath. In 2022 she was diagnosed with incurable lung damage and as time progressed, she found herself more and more restricted to a nearly sedentary life.

Phoebe was preceded in death by husband John Borman (2011), daughter Leslie Coles (2008), brothers Charles and Edward Rosselot, and sisters Mary Margaret Moore, Trudy Sherman, and Edith Opozda. Surviving are her sisters, Gabrielle Strand and Patricia Bendel; children Brian, Scott and Deborah Parker; and grandchildren Scarlett, Christopher, Logan and Dylan Parker.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to the Humane Society of Ottawa County, 2424 E. Sand Rd. Port Clinton, OH 43452 or to the Playmakers Civic Theater, 604 W 6th St, Port Clinton, OH 43452.

Graveside services will be held Sunday October 2, 2022 at 1:00pm at the Put-In-Bay Maple Leaf Cemetery. A Celebration of Life from 2-4:00pm will be held at the Put-In-Bay Yacht Club.

The Family wishes to thank Neidecker, Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home & Cremation Service for their much-appreciated assistance.