Darwin O. Boorom

Olean- Darwin O. "Bud" Boorom 

Darwin O "Bud" Boorom passed away peacefully at home on Monday, August 15th, 2022, surrounded by loved ones. Bud was born on March 18th, 1926. He was the only son of George and Elizabeth (Riley) Boorom of Buffalo NY. 

He married his loving wife Marion J. Adams of Saratoga Springs NY on June 24th, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Buffalo. They were married for 68 years at the time of her death on Sept. 21, 2015.

Bud attended Canisius Prep and the University of Buffalo. He enlisted in the US Army during WWII in 1943 fighting in Europe with the famous Blackhawks. He received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.  After leaving Europe he was with the Army of Occupation in the Philippines until his discharge in 1946 but remained in the Reserves until discharge in 1953.

Bud was a master diver for many years as an instructor and recovery for the Erie County Sheriff's Dept. He worked in nutrition for animals for S Kellogg and a salesman for Schering (ASL) in the animal pharmaceutical division. He also sold automobiles for John Hardy Chevy Buick here in Olean back in the 1970s for a short time before his health failed and retired.

Bud loved to hunt and fish, also was an avid reader, loved animals especially his yorkie Pebbles.

Bud is survived by two daughters Jean (Mike) Kessler of Allegany and Georgia (Ron) Bean of Hinsdale: six grandchildren Laura (Gerald) Keller, Corey Kessler and Kimberly (Al) Austin, two step grandchildren, Sean and Amy Bean, six great-grandchildren, Carissa (Nate) Gear, Jordan and Trevor Keller, Kaden and Dilan Kessler, a great great granddaughter Blakely Keller, sister-in-law Alice Izzo of Mechanicsville NY and many nieces and nephews.

Bud was predeceased by wife Marion and infant son Keith who passed away shortly after birth in 1949 and sisters Darwina and June.

During his brief illness Bud was cared for by his loving friends Jim and Jennifer Black, Mike and Celeste Lamb, Harold and Linda Harwood.

Bud’s picture is in the Hall of Fame at Fort Benning Georgia Para-Bldg WWII, he is also in the Winchester Hall of Fame in Tulsa, OK and Bud is a charter member of the WWII museum in New Orleans LA.

Bud lived his life and death following his theme song "I did it my way."

His graciousness was always giving back. In doing so he donated his body to the Anatomical Gift Program at the University of Buffalo to help trailblaze medical research. 

A memorial Mass of Chrisian Burial will be held at Basilica of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 10:00am. Burial will be in Chestnut Hill Cemetery where full military honors will be accorded by the Allegany American Legion Charles Harbel Post 892 Ritual Team. Arrangements are under the direction of the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 E. State St., Olean. Online condolences may be made at www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com

Memorials, if desired, may be made in Bud's honor to Honor Flight Rochester PO Box 23581 Rochester NY 14692.