Dr. Robert C. Borden

Bob’s extraordinary life ended unexpectedly on Thursday, November 2, after 67 years of love, adventure, and innovation. Bob was born to the late Edward F. Borden, Sr., and the late Louise (nee Conwell) Borden in Camden, New Jersey, on August 27, 1956.

Bob loved his family, adventure, and knowledge. At 29, he was challenged with the onset of Kennedy’s Disease (KD), a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy which attacks the nerves and leads to a slow muscle atrophy. Knowledge of this disease allowed him to plan and prepare for the future. KD slowly minimized the activities that he loved: white water canoeing, mountain climbing, and biking. However, he turned his disabilities into ways to solve contaminated water by assisting nature, mentoring, and helping others.

With an understanding of the impact of KD, Bob knew that a non-physical career would be his future and chose to follow a path to becoming a professor. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Virginia and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Rice University in Houston where he developed a scientific breakthrough model to show the movement of contaminants underground. Prior to graduation, he met Ann and married her 6 months later before moving to Raleigh to become a professor at North Carolina State University. They became partners with everything for life.

During his tenure, Bob invented technologies to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater which are now the most widely used technologies for remediating groundwater throughout the world. One would expect this type of person to be arrogant, but he was just the opposite: humble and kind. Research was his passion; curiosity and hard work were his nature. He mentored and inspired many students throughout his career, who have followed his lead either into academia or consulting, to further his goal of improving the earth for future generations.

Bob took his job as a dad very seriously. He was an amazing dad to three children adopted from Russia: Alex, Arina, and Peter. Bob’s children inserted tremendous joy into Bob’s life, even when he attempted to teach them long division during homework sessions. Being a dad also invited countless opportunities for Bob to utilize his unmatched organization skills to teach his children how to methodically approach decisions in life. He insisted that most problems in life could be solved with a proper spreadsheet.

At the heart of Bob’s whole life was his partnership with his wife, Ann. The two were like puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together. They worked hand in hand to build a family and two environmental businesses. KD eventually required that Bob and Ann spend nearly every minute of every day together, and their love only grew stronger. Bob and Ann spent their days adventuring around the world, sharing ideas, laughing, and cuddling.

Bob loved to spend time with his family. He is survived by his soulmate and best friend, Ann (nee Covaleski); his son, Alex; his daughter, Arina, and her husband, Adam Safrit; his son, Peter, and his wife, Margaret; his grandchildren, Ellamarie and Charleigh; his siblings: Ed, Jolly, Mary Lou, and Chris; and his dogs, Miska and Pasha.

Bob knew that this day would come, albeit not this soon. He requested two things from his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, Bob wanted all donations to go to the Kennedy’s Disease Association (https://kennedysdisease.org), an organization that he collaborated with to help patients and doctors understand the disease. He also wanted to invite family, friends, colleagues, and former students to celebrate his life with a party after the burial.

Relatives, friends, colleagues, and former students are invited to attend a Visitation on Friday, November 17, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Rd., Cary, NC 27511. A Funeral will also be held at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on Saturday, November 18, at 11:00 a.m., with a graveside service to follow at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery at 701 Oakwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27601. Following the graveside service, there will be a party to celebrate his life at 2:30 p.m. at Lakeside Kitchen in the former State Club at 2450 Alumni Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606. Toasts to his memory will begin at 3:30 p.m. Within walking distance to the celebration is The StateView Hotel, 2451 Alumni Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606.