MASSARO: Gil Borelli was a devoted teammate in sports, life

By Gary Massaro, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 28, 2008 at 10:45 p.m.

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Gil Borelli was a devoted father but also a devoted son, visiting his 101-year-old mother.

Gil Borelli retired from playing baseball after his career at Cathedral High School.

But the game was still a way for him to teach his children about life.

"Back when I played Little League baseball, my dad and I had a way of communicating across the diamond," said his son, Steve, of Highlands Ranch. "Usually, before an at-bat or after a base hit, I would look over at dad and he would give me a simple fist pump. I would do the same in return, and we knew exactly what the other was thinking.

"This ritual started on the baseball diamond, but has stayed with me throughout my life. Whenever I've faced a challenge in life, whether it was school, work - really any challenging situation - I could picture my dad making the fist pump and it gave me the confidence and inspiration to 'go get 'em.' The fist pump was a gift he gave me as a little boy, and I cherish it now more than ever."

Gil used his fist in other ways, like when he was holding court with friends at the Denver Press Club, where he was a longtime member. When he told a joke he loved, he would repeat the punchline - again and again and again. And he'd punch you in the arm - again and again and again.

"He wasn't a very good listener. He had to do the talking," said his wife, Jeri.

The voice is silent now, the fist stilled. Gil died Friday of lung cancer. He was 76.

Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 3549 Navajo St. A reception will follow at Longo's Subway Tavern.

Gilbert Nicholas Borelli was born Jan. 31, 1932, in Denver to Nicholas Gilbert and Nettie Smaldone Borelli.

He grew up in North Denver. He was an altar boy at Mount Carmel, and a Parochial League All-Star in football and baseball for Cathedral. He played football at the University of Colorado until he was sidelined with an injury.

He later transferred to what is now Regis University, graduating with a degree in accounting in 1954. Then he went to work for The Denver Post, eventually retiring as the national advertising manager 12 years ago.

One night, he went with friends who were invited to a party. He met Jeri Wilder, a stewardess with United Airlines. Later, he asked her out. They were married May 4, 1957, in San Rafael, Calif.

He was still athletic, playing tennis with a group of friends until he had a hip replacement, which sidelined that activity.

He was devoted to his family.

"He taught me how to be a father," said his son, Dave, of Littleton. "He was extremely supportive of me when I was studying architecture. When I dropped that to became a firefighter, he stood by me then, too."

Longtime friend Dusty Saunders was a rival of Gil's in high school and on the job.

Saunders, a Holy Family graduate, is the longtime TV critic for the Rocky.

"We'd see each other occasionally at Denver Parochial League games and often at the Trocadero Ballroom at Elitch's," Saunders said. "A lot of Holy Family guys sometimes resented Gil, his athletic ability plus the fact he often dated - stole - some of the Holy Family gals."

Later on, they reconnected. They'd meet with other friends for lunch on Fridays, usually at the Subway, owned by Gil's cousin, Ray Longo.

"Gil was a great storyteller, using his hands in typical Italian style," Saunders said. "While always up-to-date businesswise, Gil was a traditionalist, particularly when it came to music. 'I've never understood this new style of dancing,' he often said. 'Dancing is better when you do it cheek-to-cheek style with your lady, like in the old days at the Elitch's Trocadero.'"

The devoted father was also a devoted son. He visited his 101-year-old mother almost daily in an assisted care facility in Littleton.

Survivors besides his wife and two sons include his mother, Nettie, of Littleton; one sister, Bernadette Borelli, of Santa Fe; and three grandchildren.

Donations: American Cancer Society, 2255 S. Oneida St., Denver, CO 80224-2522.

massarog@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5271

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