Trillium Woods Couple’s Remarkable Love Story Began with a Surprising Blind Date

Jane and Gene Borochoff’s love story began with a blind date revelation fit for a Hollywood Rom Com.

When Gene’s cousin Ruth set him up on a blind date with her sorority sister at the University of Iowa, she had no idea that the pair were already linked in a way.  “Ruth didn’t mention Jane’s last name before she introduced us in person,” Gene explains. “But when she said her name was Holland, it struck me because for a short time, I had dated her older sister, Dorothy.” But there were more surprises in store for Gene.

“Over the summer, Dorothy and I exchanged correspondence,” he continues. “And of course, this was before text messaging and email. So, we wrote letters back and forth. Or at least I thought we did. I found out 25 years into our marriage that Dorothy didn’t like writing letters, and Jane had offered to write them for her. She thought it’d be fun to be corresponding with a college kid. So, when we were introduced, Jane knew quite a bit about me because she had written letters to me and had read letters from me.”

Fate clearly knew what it was doing, and the young couple married while Gene was still finishing college, despite advice from both sets of parents to wait until there was a diploma and a “real job.”

“We assured them that we’ll just work out a budget and everything will be fine, and of course, they were right,” he laughs. “We did not have enough money.”

The pair made it work the old-fashioned way: when the money ran out, they stopped spending until they could afford to.

Over their 66-year marriage, the Borochoffs built a life shaped by partnership and adaptability. They raised three children — two daughters and a son — and today are proud grandparents to eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Their family is spread across the country, from Vermont to Georgia, and they no longer travel like they used to; the connections remain strong. They’re planning a family reunion to bring everyone together again this summer.

Gene spent his career with General Mills, starting out with what he thought would be a short stop and staying for 35 years. His work eventually led him into international leadership roles, including three years living in France while serving as Technical Director for General Mills Europe. Later, as Director of Research and Development for General Mills International, he traveled to Europe twice a month for years before retiring early and using his time volunteering with disaster response and with Habitat for Humanity, building homes. Jane was a music major, and she put her education on hold early on — first because of an accident during their early years together, then to support their growing family. Later, she returned to school at the University of Minnesota, earning an undergraduate degree in music therapy and a graduate degree in job development, which she used working for several organizations, including Opportunity Partners and Vinland National Center. In addition, she volunteered as a Guardian ad Litum with Hennepin County courts for sixteen years.

A Plan for the Future

When they became seniors, Gene and Jane began to consider their options for the future. They loved their home in Plymouth, MN, and could have stayed. But they began asking the harder questions: What happens if one of us passes before the other? What happens to the other? How will the surviving spouse relocate and sell the house on their own?  They didn’t want their children to someday be faced with urgent decisions, home sales, or uncertainty.

They had cousins living at Trillium Woods, Plymouth’s premier lifeplan senior living community, and had visited often over the years. When they began seriously exploring other senior living options, Trillium Woods stood out immediately.
“It was head and shoulders above anything else we looked at,” Gene said. “And in hindsight, like a lot of people here, we probably should have moved a couple of years earlier.”

What set Trillium Woods apart wasn’t just the beautiful setting — though Jane notes that as she sits by the window, she’s looking out over a peaceful lake — or the excellent dining, or the thoughtfully designed residences. It was the people. The staff, Gene explains, are genuinely engaged in their work. Not just doing a job, but truly caring for residents. The low turnover spoke volumes. “In this industry, that’s unusual,” he said. “They’re clearly doing something right.” Jane agrees. She appreciates the calm, welcoming environment and the sense of security that comes from knowing whatever the future holds, they will be taken care of — and their children won’t have to worry.

Building Friendships

Life at Trillium Woods has also brought something unexpected: deeper relationships. “In a neighborhood, you might really know two or three neighbors,” Gene said. “Here, you get to know more people in depth.”  He especially values the men’s discussion group that meets every Monday morning. “The topics are usually pretty cursory,” he says. “Whatever the subject, we go around and talk about it, and I get to know my fellow residents in ways that I would not otherwise know. And it’s a fantastic experience. So, I try to never miss it. And twice a month, there’s a men’s group that comes out for breakfast on Saturday mornings.”

Freedom to Do Your Own Thing

Though Trillium Woods offers a schedule chock full of activities, meetings, classes, clubs, and parties, Jane gravitates toward the library, a quiet and beautiful space where she can relax and recharge, knowing that she is perfectly welcome to participate as much or as little in community events as she’d like to. Together, they enjoy dining in the community, cooking occasionally at home, and heading out to dinner in town with longtime friends — choosing each day exactly how full they want it to be.

Gene jokes that his one complaint is that it’s hard to find anything to complain about. “I really do like to complain,” he laughs.

Make Your Plan

Interested in learning whether Trillium Woods could be the right next chapter for you or someone you love? Schedule a visit at https://www.trilliumwoodslcs.com/#/further/55 and discover how planning ahead can create more freedom, connection, and peace of mind.