Bucks People sp14
Octogenarian and Bucks County resident Mary Borkovitz came of age at a time when, as she puts it, “ …the only working opportunities afforded to women were limited to secretarial, teaching or nursing.” But if you have the pleasure of spending time with this petite, spry and formidable former Long Islander you will soon discover that exceeding limits does not easily intimidate this sprightly and passionate patron of the arts, who at one time could have easily passed as the late great Mary Martin’s doppelganger at her Peter Pan best.
A native New Yorker, Mary and her sister had a traditional upbringing. Her father spent his days selling overcoat linings to clothing manufacturers yet made it a priority every morning to bring his beloved wife tea and toast in bed. Mary’s mother spent her days keeping house and caring for her two girls. Mary recalls that her dad would give her mom as much of a monthly allowance as they could afford. She speaks wistfully of how she and her sister would take turns shopping with her mom as the family budget was stretched to keep two little girls well dressed. “One month it would be my sister’s turn for something new and the next month would be mine,” she explains. But for as much as she loved and admired her homemaker mother, Mary couldn’t escape the feeling that for her at least, perhaps life had more to offer.
To finish reading about Mary Borkowitz, turn to page 68 in the Spring 2014 issue of Bucks County Magazine.