37°
He was born March 26, 1923, in Malito, Italy, to Saverio and Josephine Borrelli. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1937, met by his father, three brothers and two sisters.
He first worked at Yonkers Refined Syrups Co. before becoming a groundskeeper at several estates in northwest Yonkers. He served in the U.S. military during World War II in Germany.
Following his discharge, Borrelli and his brothers Albert and Alfred, and brother-in-law John Amendola, began Borrelli Brothers. Soon after, they were hired to remove snow from Yonkers streets after a blizzard in 1947. The business continued for many years in site development and construction.
Borrelli was a prominent figure in the old 7th Ward and Café Puglia in Park Hill, his family said. He was a founding member of the Italian National Club, started in the basement of Guilo’s Restaurant.
An avid soccer player, Borrelli was also a league champion bowler and boccie player. He and his son, Saverio "Sam," sunk the first shovel for the groundbreaking of the Italian City Club construction on McLean Avenue.
Borrelli served as chairman of the Church of St. Anthony Italian feasts on Willow Street in Park Hill. He was also the founder and president of Virgil Borrelli Contracting Co. Inc., a site development company.
He is survived by his son, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Ann's Church in Yonkers. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Flower Funeral Home in Yonkers is handling arrangements.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Yonkers and receive free news updates.
