Obituary of Moe Bordwin

It is with great sadness that we announce that Moe Bordwin, age 89, died peacefully with family by his side on October 30, 2025.  

Born in the Bronx in 1936, Moe delighted his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all who would listen, with his stories of running around the Bronx neighborhood with his many friends; taking 3 subways to work in his uncles’ grocery store from the age of 8; as a teenager, waiting tables at hotels in Spring Valley, NY (where he met his wife, then a counselor at that hotel’s day camp); and army stories to last a lifetime.

In 1957, Moe married Rochelle Semp, his soulmate, from Jersey City; and they built a life together in Glen Cove, NY with a large group of friends. They raised their children there, helped found Theater II, and were lovingly involved in their synagogue Congregation Tifereth Israel, where he was a pillar of their community. Moe was also a supporter of Surprise Lake Camp, where he spent many summers as a child, and later became a trustee of the Camp.  

Moe had a distinguished professional career as an attorney where he transformed the real estate bankruptcy field in the 1970s.  In 1982 he established Keen Realty Consultants which later became Keen-Summit Capital Partners from which he retired in 2010. Moe borrowed the name “Keen” from his in-laws, who were retiring and closing their Jersey City clothing store Keen Kotton. 

Moe lived his life with love, humility and generosity. He always wanted to help others, and he shared his business acumen with all who needed it (and even some who didn’t ask for it). He quietly helped people through difficult times with advice and care.  Anyone who needed help knew they could turn to Moe for support.  

Moe leaves behind his wife of 68 years Rochelle; his son Harold (Julie); his daughter Janet (Eric Gallant); his son Matthew (Danielle); and his grandchildren Jesse Bordwin (Gwendolyn Towers) and Simon Bordwin (Robbie Blue); Charlie Kannel (Arden Kreeger), Ethan Kannel (Rebecca) and Jared Kannel; Izzy Bordwin (Peyton Don), Callie Bordwin & Mia Bordwin; and his great-grandchildren: Madelyn Paige Kannel and Sophia Rose Kannel. His legacy of love, innovation, generosity, honor, compassion, and integrity will forever inspire us.

Donations in memory of Moe can be made to:

• The Moe Bordwin Memorial Fund at Congregation Tifereth Israel, 40 Hill Street, Glen Cove, NY 11542; https://members.ctionline.org/form/Moe%20Bordwin%20Memorial%20Fund 

(Just as Moe was always one of the first to lend a hand to others, this Fund has been created to carry forward his spirit of generosity and compassion).

• Surprise Lake Camp, 302 Lake Surprise Road, Cold Spring, NY 10516; https://surpriselake.org/ways-to-give/tribute-gift/ 

(As a kid from the Bronx, Moe was sponsored to go to Surprise Lake Camp and get out into the country.  In addition to being a camper there, he was a long-time member of the Board of Trustees and has helped numerous children experience summer camp there).