Geraldine Borden Hacker

Born Geraldine Sylvan Borden on August 2nd, 1922 in Los Angeles, California, “Geri” as she was affectionately known was the daughter of Irving Borden, a Russian Jewish immigrant from the town of Ekaterinaslav and Celia Packer who hailed from Brooklyn, NY.

As a child, Geri’s mother longed to be back home with her family in NY, so they left California and returned to the East Coast, settling in New Rochelle, NY where her childhood was forged amidst the hardships of the Great Depression. It was in New Rochelle that she met the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Hacker, an admirable man of great humility and a strong sense of civic duty. They were married on June 7th, 1941. She was 18.

Bob would later be drafted into the US Army during WWII, where he fought with the liberating forces in the European Campaigns, leaving Geraldine at home in New York. In 1945 she gave birth to her oldest son Steven while Bob was deployed overseas, and in 1952 her youngest son Robin Bruce was born. Years later her husband Bob would fall victim to a freak accident, which left him paralyzed for life. Geraldine never left his side.

Hailing from an era of inequality, as a woman she was not permitted to attend university, though she once admitted she likely would’ve ended up in medicine like her brother Alvin and grandson Robert. Her talents were many and she was a shining example of how intelligent, capable and driven a woman can be. She demanded respect and possessed great skill as a near concert-level pianist. She always dressed sharply and loved to attend symphonies, operas and ballets; and though the performances of the West Coast never quite seemed to measure up to New York City, her name adorns the walls of the Orange County Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a founding member.

Geri was a steadfast patron of the arts and far ahead of her time. While her husband always rooted for the underdog, like Jackie Robinson, the first professional African American baseball player; when she recognized the talent of her children’s babysitter, a young LGBT boy, Geri not only encouraged but supported and sponsored him in attending the Pratt Institute, a notable New York institution of art & design. Richard would go on to become a prominent and successful NYC artist.

Geri helped run the office of her brother, Dr. Alvin Borden’s dermatology practice in NY, and later became a licensed electrologist. She dabbled in jewelry, loved to paint and knit, traveled the world and ultimately became extremely proficient in managing her portfolio of stocks and bonds. She also collected and was an expert in antique Wedgewood pottery, and even lectured on the subject.

She was deeply involved in charitable organizations such as Brandeis, Hadassah and World ORT - the world’s largest Jewish education and vocational training NGO. She embraced her Judaism and gave freely to Temple Bat Yahm as well as helped to found what is now the Reform Temple of Laguna Woods. In New Mexico, she was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Women’s Auxiliary and supported a host of other causes. She organized events, led committees and honed her computer and email skills well into her 90’s.

But like so many people in this world, she was never dealt a fair hand in life. She would ultimately outlive her parents, her oldest brother Leslie, her husband Bob, her youngest brother Alvin, her sister Rhoda, her youngest son Robin, along with so many of her friends. She was strong-willed and possessed an unwavering tenacity for life.

Following her husband’s tragic accident, her son Robin moved to New Mexico where they discovered a hospital that specialized in spinal injuries. Bob was transferred and Geri followed suit. After Bob’s death in 1978, Geri returned to her birth state of California and settled here in Orange County. In 1985 her youngest son Robin relocated his family to be near her and remained devoted to her until his untimely death in 2006.

Geri loved her seven grandchildren Robert, Blake, Debbie, Sandy, Renee, Robbie, Bonnie and her five great grandchildren Jack, Samantha, Alexa, Lizzie and Liam more than anything in the world. Though she saw them infrequently, her house was overflowing with photographs of family, which were her pride and joy.

She embodied strength, love and determination and will be deeply missed. May her memory be for a blessing.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Geraldine Hacker's name to World ORT at https://www.ort.org/get-involved/donate/