Brian G. Shifrin, 43, of Southborough, passed away on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at his home, after a battle with ALS.
He was the beloved husband of Kristine (Wingate) Shifrin for the past 16 years. Born in Lynn, he was the son of Laura( Mand) Shifrin of Townsend and the late Stephen Shifrin.
Brian was raised in Townsend and attended Applewild School in Fitchburg. He loved Applewild and later became a member of their board of directors. He was a graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall High School of Wallingford, CT, attended University of Rochester, graduated from Fitchburg State and Suffolk Law School. Brian started Global Real Property Solutions an appraisal company and later his dream came true, He opened his own law firm, Shifrin Law. Brian and Kristine married in 2004 in Walt Disney World. They settled in Southborough, a place he loved. and volunteered his time on several boards. He was the chair of the recreation commission; chair of Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee; Chair of Golf Course Master Plan was a member of Community Preservation Committee; SHOPC; was elected to the Board of Selectman of Southborough. Brian also served as the commissioner of Southborough Men’s Softball for over 15 years. However, his greatest joy was being a parent to his children, Charlie and Courtney. He was the best dad. He loved watching his kids play sports, helped them with homework, played catch all the time and brought them to Red Sox and Bruins games. He coached his kids and their friends in baseball for several years. He was a devoted coach. Brian was a Red Sox season ticket holder in the State Street Club for years. There was not a place that made him happier than going to Fenway with his family. Brian and his family traveled to different MLB ballparks each summer. He loved Billy Joel concerts and a good steak.
When Brian was diagnosed with ALS he fought so hard to keep living. His grace and determination was an inspiration to so many Loyal Shifstrongers.
In addition to his wife and mother, he leaves his children, Charlie and Courtney Shifrin of Southborough; his sister, Pam Shifrin of Vail, CO; his in-laws Tina and Ted Hyland of Southborough; his sister in law,Tracy Bertonazzi and her husband, Eric; their children, Billy, Betsy and Ben Bertonazzi, all of Southborough;his aunt Vivian Harris of Nashville and Uncle David Mand and his family of Rochester, NY and several beloved cousins.
A graveside will be held on Monday, November, 18, at 1pm at Southborough Rural Cemetery, Middle Road.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, November, 19, from 4 to 7pm at the Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main Street, Southborough. The family has asked that all who attend the wake please wear your Red Sox gear.
A celebration of a life well live will be announced at a later date.
Brian’s family would like to thank all those that stood by them every day of his illness. We would also like the thank his doctors Merit Cudkowicz of MGH and Robert Brown of Umass and their teams as well as his caregiver Martha Ramos, the Boston Red Sox, Jen Dimartino ALS One and Ron Hoffman of CCALS.
To honor Brian, memorial contributions may be sent in his memory to, ALSone.org; ALSone.org; Marybethfoundation.org.
To send words of condolence to the family, please visit morrisSouthboroughfuneral.com
To send flowers to Brian’s family, please visit our floral section.
(Obituary and photovia Morris Funeral Home)
Brian Shifrin was as good as they come, a gentleman that I found to be of humility, principle and courage. I first came to know Brian well when he was a member of the Community Preservation Commission, and initially opposed the use of CPA funding for certain projects in Town that I supported. Trying to persuade Brian to a different viewpoint was often a frustrating task, not because he was unreasonable, but rather just the opposite – he knew what he stood for and (more importantly) why he stood for it. After he later became a Selectman I knew that our Town would benefit greatly from those principles, regardless of whether there was actual agreement on a particular issue. I hope that Kristine, Charlie and Courtney can take at least some comfort knowing of the admiration that Brian engendered in his service to our Town, and as a pillar of the community at large. Brian’s life among us was much too short, but it was very well lived, and many were better for it.