July 6, 2026
More Than A Gym: A Stella Moment
Dedication of Jeffrey Borsuk Gym & Gathering Place
Rain wasn't part of the plan.
The forecast for June 20, 2026 promised sunshine, but as family and friends gathered on the Stella Maris campus for the dedication of the Jeffrey Borsuk Gym & Gathering Place, gray skies opened and rain began to fall.
Conversations were quiet. No one quite knew what to expect as family and friends gathered to remember Jeffrey Borsuk—the son, brother and friend they had lost too soon. By the end of the morning, though, there were smiles, laughter and splashes of bright color.
It was exactly the kind of transformation Jeffrey Borsuk would have appreciated.
Jeff loved helping people get stronger. As a personal trainer, he introduced people to weightlifting, shared what he knew, and encouraged anyone willing to pick up a weight. He dreamed of opening a free gym in Cleveland where anyone could discover the confidence that comes from getting stronger.
He had already collected the equipment to make it happen.
A PHONE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
After his passing, Jeff’s parents, Jim and Linda Borsuk, were faced with an impossible question: What would they do with all of that equipment?
They wanted to ensure none of it went to waste and that it would continue to change lives. They spoke with several places, but due to logistics or timing, nothing felt right.
Then Linda did something she still can't quite explain.
"I had to call Stella Maris..."
When she did, she learned Stella had just purchased a building with room for a gym—but they had no equipment.
Around here, we call moments like that "Stella Moments." Every so often, things come together in a way so meaningful that it’s hard to ignore.
One year later, what began as an unexpected phone call became a reality worth celebrating.
Nearly 50 of the Borsuks' closest friends and family gathered for the dedication ceremony, including Jeff's sister, Alex, who traveled from Oregon with her husband and new baby.
Jim and Linda thanked the gathering for their support, more than a few eyes welling up.
"Jeff would have hated this attention," Linda chuckled through tears. "He would have had his head down, not looking at anyone."
Yet she also knew he would have been deeply proud to see what his equipment is doing today—helping people rebuild their lives one workout at a time.
A SHIFT IN SPIRIT
Following the ceremony, guests walked across the street toward the gym, the sun coming out as they did.
A Stella-blue ribbon was ceremoniously spread across the garage, giant scissors waiting.
People smiled. Their eyes widened in surprise. They wandered through the space, pointing out details they hadn't expected. Jeff's photograph welcomed visitors near the entrance. His name stretched proudly across the wall. Conversations became lighter.
Perhaps the most striking tribute was impossible to miss—a bold, vibrant graffiti mural spanning the wall.
The style wasn't chosen by accident.
Jeff himself was a graffiti artist, and Stella Maris wanted the artwork to reflect another part of who he was. Then came another surprise – two of the artists who created the mural arrived at the end of the dedication and spent time speaking with Jim and Linda. For them, the project carried its own significance. Both are alumni of Stella Maris who wanted to give back to the place that helped them begin their recovery journeys.
By the end of the morning, the mood was completely different.
Guests sampled cookies and pastries, chatted with one another, admired the artwork, reminisced about playing pool on the billiard table that once was Jeff’s, and some even tried the fitness equipment that he hoped would serve others. It no longer felt like people were saying goodbye. It felt like they were watching a legacy begin its next chapter.
Today, Jeff's gym is doing exactly what he hoped it would. Every day, people working to rebuild their lives walk through its doors. Some are getting stronger physically. Others are discovering confidence they didn't know they still had.
The words Jim and Linda chose for Jeff's commemorative plaque capture that spirit perfectly:
"Remember, recovery is like weight training; it takes work to see the benefit. All steps, big or small, are still steps forward."
Jeff believed physical strength had the power to change lives.
Thanks to the generosity of his family, it still does.
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The gym is used by nearly 100 Stella clients a day. The administrative team hopes to open it up for use by staff and alumni in the future.
