Robert John Borger

Robert John Borger was born in in Mt Vernon, NY October 27th 1946. The first child of Charles and Dorothy Borger. Known as Bobby as a kid, Rob grew up in Eastchester along with sisters Dale and Joanie, attending an all-boys boarding school before leaving home for college at University of Vermont in Burlington where he received his masters in Psychology.

It was in Burlington where Rob met Elizabeth while working as a high school psychology Teacher. They were married in 1980 on Lake Champlain outside Burlington. The two eventually found themselves working for the International Rescue Committee in Somalia in 1982. While Elizabeth worked as a nurse, Rob found his place as a handyman in the refugee camp and was fondly referred to as Fundi (Foon-dee) which means expert or teacher. He returned for a second tour in 1983.

Rob and Elizabeth were living in Guam in 1988 when their first son Andrew was born and soon after came daughter Fiona in 1991. Typhoon Omar in 1992 delivered a devastating blow to Guam and was the primary reason the Borger family moved back stateside. Elizabeth found work as a Nurse midwife in Tallahassee while Rob began painting houses and raising Andrew and Fiona. He was featured in the Tallahassee Democrat column for stay at home dads. Son Nicholas Borger was adopted in 1999.

Rob started a career at FSU school of Medicine as a pre-med advisor in 2002. He was instrumental in the career path of many pre-med students and served as coordinator and chairman for several student clubs.

Rob loved spending time outdoors with friends and family. Whether it was coaching the kids soccer teams, riding bikes to Posey's on the Saint Marks trail, or kayaking the Wacissa River. He took every opportunity to load up a backpack and spend the entire day outside. He was active in the Woodland drives neighborhood association and spent many weekends working on and leading beautification efforts around the neighborhood.

Rob retired from FSU in 2015 and went back to painting houses part time. He was diagnosed with MSA- Multiple Systems Atrophy an untreatable neurodegenerative disease in 2020. Despite the grim prognosis, Rob relentlessly continued to paint, ride bikes, and stay active to the best of his abilities until the disease made it impossible. He continued to fight the cruel course of the illness until the day he passed away.

Rob is survived by wife of 44 years Elizabeth, sons Andrew and Nick, daughter Fiona, sister Joanie, and grandchildren Rowyn and Eliana.

A celebration of life is being planned for late May 2024 and a live oak tree will be planted in Old Fort Park in honor of Rob. Details to follow soon. In lieu of flowers and food donations can be made to MissionMSA a 501C3 non-profit funding research, support, and information about the disease and treatment.

https://donate.missionmsa.org/give/562187/#!/donation/checkout