Clilnton Kurt Bordwell

Clinton Kurt Bordwell, “Kurt”, 78, passed away on July 15, 2026, in his beloved Mount Airy "Mayberry," North Carolina—with his loving daughter Tabitha by his side—in a place he truly considered his personal paradise.

Kurt was born in Cortland, New York, on December 1, 1947, to the late Elizabeth Jayne Metcalf and Clinton Ward Bordwell, Jr.

Throughout his life, Kurt enjoyed many different careers, culminating as the proprietor of the Flying Frog Tavern in Hudson, New York.

Kurt was known by all for his vibrant personality and his deep, unapologetic appreciation for the things he loved. Though his strong opinions offended some, he was always entirely true to himself and his beliefs. Kurt possessed a lifelong passion for the outdoors, design, cars, guns, and photography. A true artist himself, he deeply appreciated all forms of art and constantly expressed his creative vision through photography, design, and his many sketches and drawings. A master craftsman in automotive restoration, he also restored and showed award-winning cars, with several of his featured restorations published in prominent car magazines. Above all, Kurt held a special, fierce affection for all animals.

He is survived by his daughters, Tabitha Palladino, who relocated to Mount Airy in 2024 to assist with his care, Trisha Sherman and her husband Scott, and daughter Melissa Murphy, whom he was blessed to connect with later in life through DNA ancestry; his sisters, Susan Marcanio and Mary Bordwell; his grandchildren, Lena Palladino and Kannon Sherman; his nephews Peter and John, and niece Olivia; and his cherished pets, his dogs Sarah and Leila, and his cats Buffy, Natasha, and Boris.

Kurt was preceded in death by his loving wife, Shirley Ann Yablansky Bordwell; his first wife, Sandra Yacono Bordwell, the loving mother of his daughters Tabitha and Trisha; his brother, Steven Bordwell; his parents, Elizabeth Jayne and Clinton Ward Bordwell, Jr.; and his daughter, Laurinda Insalaco, who was adopted at birth and reconnected with him later in life before her passing in 2025.

At Kurt's express request, no formal services will be scheduled.