Remembering Tom Borysek '65
By Jennifer SpiraThrough his lifelong service, generosity, and devotion to MCPHS, Tom Borysek leaves a legacy that will shape the University community for years to come.
When he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Pharmacy from MCPHS in 2007, Tom Borysek BSP ’65 recalled his first visit to the Boston campus as a high school student, accompanied by his parents and grandmother. Together, they admired and touched the famous bronze doors of the White Building, unaware of the lasting impact he would one day have on the University.
On Saturday, March 28, Thomas H. Borysek passed away in Elkhorn, Wisc., at the age of 83.
Borysek was born and raised in Methuen, Mass., and the first in his family to attend college. His path to pharmacy began in the neighborhood drugstore, where the seventh grader worked his first job and dreamed of a career in medicine.
Once at MCPHS, Borysek was an active member of Kappa Psi, the APhA Student Chapter, and the Newman Club. He served on the Class of 1965 Cap and Gown Committee and was awarded the Paul G. Fitzpatrick Memorial Scholarship in 1963–1964. During that time, he also co-wrote the book Pharmaceutical Synonyms and Special Dispensing Points with classmate Rylance Lord BSP ’65.
After earning his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1965, Borysek devoted more than 40 years to serving veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs, ultimately rising to Chief Pharmacist. He received a fellowship from the American College of Apothecaries and remained an active member of the MCPHS Corporation and the Pillar Society.
A dedicated supporter of future pharmacists, he established two student scholarships at MCPHS: the Harold James Lane MD/Thomas H. Borysek Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Henry P., Helen I., Victoria, and Thomas H. Borysek and Sophie Dmytrow Pharmacognosy, Medicinal Plant Chemistry, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Scholarship Fund.
His legacy is especially visible on the Worcester campus, where the Thomas Henry Borysek Living and Learning Center bears his name. He took great joy in mentoring students, offering guidance on careers in government and sharing job opportunities.
Borysek also found fulfillment in quieter pursuits. An avid numismatist, he built a coin collection over many decades with, as his family notes, “the patience and precision that mirrored his professional life.” He also cherished fishing and had a deep appreciation for poetry.
Through his lifelong service, generosity, and devotion to MCPHS, Tom Borysek leaves a legacy that will shape the University community for years to come.
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