Boris Rakowsky

Boris Rakowsky, (age 86) passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 15, 2026 in Akron, OH. Boris was born on June 24,1939 in Lviv, Ukraine, was the son of Jaroslaw and Nina (Popel) Rakowsky (both deceased). Boris fled Ukraine with his parents and brothers as a preschooler in 1944, when Russian conquest of Lviv became inevitable. Toward the end of the war, the Rakowsky family found itself in the Wilhelmshaven concentration camp near Vienna, Austria, from where they managed to escape. The end of WWII found them in the American zone of Bavaria. They migrated to Belgium and France, from where they immigrated to the United States in 1952. Boris received his Civil Engineering degree from Fenn College, and a J.D. from Cleveland State University's Cleveland Marshall Law School. Boris worked the majority of his career as an Attorney for the State of Ohio.

Boris is survived by his brother Roman Rakowsky (Daria), Christine (the widow of his brother Jeremy), Nephews Dr. Mark (Dr. Katrina), Cornelius (Dr. Tania), Damian (Gloria) Peter (Shana), and eight grandnieces and grandnephews and a large extended family.

Bo was an avid tennis player and skier- this is how he met his longtime companion Patty Patrick - now deceased. Patty and Bo enjoyed life taking many tennis and skiing vacations joined by many friends.

Bo was blessed to have had two families and is additionally survived by his bonus family, Pati Patrick, Wildon Ellison, and Max Ellison and Paige Ellison.

Bo lived a great life and was always surrounded by many people who loved him. He was kind and generous and will always be remembered for his quick wit, love of the Cavaliers, Guardians and Browns. We are thankful Bo got to see one Cleveland team win a championship!

Family and Friends are invited to a visitation on Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 11 AM – 12 PM at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral 5720 State Rd. Parma, OH 44134. Funeral Service at 12 PM. Interment to follow at St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Boris to: 

St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral www.stjosaphatcathedral.com 

or 

Cleveland Maidan Association www.givebutter.com/CMAmedictraining