Boris Timothy Prasoloff

Boris Timothy Prasoloff was born near Kuldja in the Xinjiang Province of China on February 13, 1941, after his family fled the Soviet Union. They trekked across China to Shanghai and later emigrated to a refugee camp in Tubabao, in the Philippines. It was there, as a young boy, that Boris fell in love with fishing, a passion he never outgrew.

His family immigrated to San Francisco in 1951 and joined Geary Street Church, which was filled with other Slavic refugees. A natural musician who could even play by ear, Boris accompanied on the piano and sang in the choir. He worked in a lumber yard to finance his studies and graduated from Bethany Bible College.

Boris married his sweetheart, Sarah Dumanovsky, in 1969, shortly after returning from a year-long tour with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, where he served as a conscientious objector and medic. For his exemplary military service, he was awarded a Bronze Star. Boris and Sarah moved to Oregon, where he became deeply enamored with the Pacific Northwest.

An outdoorsman at heart, Boris loved camping, backpacking, and especially fishing. He worked in a variety of roles, including as a jobs developer at IRCO, though his true career passion was music. He developed his choral conducting skills through college coursework and began applying them at Russian Gospel Church in Hubbard.

The crowning glory of Boris’s musical career was conducting the impressive choir at Immovable Foundation Church. He was known for his high expectations, expressive flair, and the way he infused even the strictest rehearsals with unexpected hilarity. Above all, he was admired for the exceptional quality of the music his choirs produced.

This golden season of making beautiful music was tragically interrupted by a stroke. Still, Boris persisted in hope of recovery with a positive attitude for more than two decades, remaining chock-full of witty comments even through a later season of dialysis.

Boris was a one-of-a-kind individual, larger than life when he was in his element. He passed away on January 18, 2026, in the presence of his loved ones at his home.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah; his children, Yuri, Eric, and Masha, and their partners; and his beloved granddaughter, Gracie.