Boris Tabakoff, 84, was pronounced death on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at his home in Schapville, IL.

Boris was born to Isaac and Bertha Tabakoff on September 27, 1942, in Tien-Tsin China. His family was forced to move to Australia during the Communist takeover of China, and later to Los Angeles, California where Boris attended Hollywood High and found a love of football. He attended the University of Colorado, Boulder and was a member of the Colorado Buffs football team that went to the Orange Bowl. Boris received a bachelor’s degree from the CU School of Pharmacy and returned to CU to obtain a PhD in Pharmacology from the Institute of Behavior Genetics where he was awarded emeritus status. He has had a highly acclaimed academic career, beginning at the Chicago Medical School and the University of Illinois School of Medicine, where he became a full professor seven years after beginning his postdoctoral work. He established and became Director of the University of Illinois Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research and Training Center. Dr. Tabakoff was recruited back to the University of Colorado in the School of Medicine as Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology. He served in that capacity for 19 years, developing the Department to become one of the leading Pharmacology Departments in the nation.

Boris also founded and was CEO of a company that is translating his scientific advances to treatments for drug dependence and pain. In addition to his scientific career, Dr. Tabakoff had a lover of animals and farming that is evidenced in his superior herd of Angus Cattle developed for breeding stock. His scientific successes, notwithstanding, his cattle and farming work in Schapville were some of his proudest achievements. Boris is survived by his wife Jaine, her children and grandchildren, and his many scientific collaborators and friends.

Visitation will be from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Schapville, (rural Scales Mound, IL) where funeral services will follow. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The Miller-Steinke Funeral Home of Scales Mound, IL is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com©