Tom Borchert

Tom was born November 8, 1945, in Holland, Michigan, and moved to the beach at a young age. He attended Jacksonville Beach Elementary, Fletcher Junior High, and graduated from Fletcher High School, where he was a member of the track team. He proudly graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. Tom was employed by the State of Florida for fifteen years as a Health Inspector, before retiring to form his own successful consulting company, Florida Restaurant Consultants. He was proud to include many of the fine restaurants in the beaches area as his clients. He served on the Board of Directors with the Florida Restaurant association for several terms.

Tom was an active member of the beaches community. In 1982, he founded “The Beaches Preservation Society”, dedicated to enhancing our beaches and limiting high-rise buildings. He served as a member, and later as chairman of the Codes Enforcement Board of Jacksonville Beach. He loved the outdoors, and for many years was a dedicated runner on the beach.

Tom was always devoted to his family. He instilled in his children a love of the outdoors, all animals, a sense of purpose, self-respect and service to others. He was a frequent volunteer in all his children’s schools, and happily played dolls and “dress up”. He was a Boy Scout leader for years and loved working on projects with his son. He loved country music, camping out, and traveling in his RV. He was a collector of Lionel trains, and loved watching and collecting old movies.

Tom is predeceased by his parents, Clara and Fred Borchert and brother-in-law, John Gee. He will be forever missed by his wife, Susie, and three children: Terrie Phillips (Ed) of Kingsport, Tennessee, Sarah Peterson (Mike) of Neptune Beach, and Tommy Borchert, of Jacksonville Beach. He was an amazing “Papa” to his grandchildren, Ashlyn and Pearson Mills, and Hannah Peterson, as well as his grand-dog, George. Tom is also survived by his sister, Beverly Horne (Bill) of Jacksonville Beach and their children Bentley (Sherri), and Brett (Teresa) Horne. He has a large extended family which includes: Jenny and John Speer and their children, Mike and, Jessie (with whom he shared a special bond), Lisa Zimmerman and her children Skeeter and Jason (Nicole), Janice Rousseau, and Bill and Jane Gee and their children Jesse and John.

The family is so grateful for his supportive doctors: Dr. Adam Dimitrov, Dr. Scot Ackerman, Dr. Jeffrey Brink, the Mayo Clinic ICU unit, and the McGraw Hospice Center.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held Saturday, Jan 27th, 2018, at 5:00 P.M. at North Beach Bistro, 725-6 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, Fl. Arrangements are under the direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL.