Robert M. Borst

Robert M. Borst (Bob, Robo, Bob-O) 88 of Berwyn, PA passed away on November 26, 2017 surrounded by his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Barbara C. (nee Campbell) and his four children; Robert S., (Amy) Meredith Quillman (Scott), Allison Overton (John), and Peter. He had five grandchildren; Travis Quillman (deceased), Ian Quillman, Kelsey Ross, Stephen and Meredith Borst. Bob had two sisters; Betsy Stanton, (Vernon) of Bryn Mawr, PA and Barbara Rodgers (Ted) of Kailua, Hawaii and many nieces and nephews.

Bob was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1947 where he played basketball and football. He went on to attend Duke University, graduating in 1951 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. While at Duke he was a member of SAE fraternity and played freshman basketball.

After college he served in the Coast and Geodetic Survey, where he mapped the coast of the country from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico and in to the Virgin Islands. Many family vacations had detours to the sites he had mapped and surveyed like the southeastern most point in the U.S. in St. Croix, USVI.

In 1948 he started summer and part time work with Fisher Tank Company in Chester, PA where he eventually served as President and CEO until his retirement in 1998. His famous trips to see tanks were part of every family vacation.

Bob enjoyed skiing in the Poconos with his family and friends and ringing in many a New Year at the family cabin at Lake Harmony. He loved sailing and spent his summers as a boy sailing and boating throughout the Chesapeake Bay and was a generous contributor to the Chesapeake Bay Society all of his life. Later he spent many a summer day sailing his Catalina 22 in the waters around Ocean City, NJ. Bob was an avid golfer and one of the original members of Waynesborough Country Club in Paoli, PA. He made a Hole-In-One on the 2nd hole and loved the Father-Son Golf outings. In his later years he spent every chance he could watching his grandchildren’s sporting events and Duke Basketball.

Bob and Barbara traveled extensively throughout the US and the world. Whether searching for tanks, visiting relatives or just exploring and relaxing, their travels were numerous. These included trips in the family car to Florida, the West Coast and Canada and trips around the globe to the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Australia and to visit his sister and family in China.

Bob was very active in serving the community and the Berwyn United Methodist Church. He was a member of the church for over 50-years serving as president and a member of the Church Council. He volunteered his time to United Way of Southeast Delaware County, Broomall Jaycees, was a charter member of the Great Valley Jaycees. He served as President of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

He was an original member of the Upper Main Line YMCA and was President from 1967-69 and on numerous committees and highly involved in the growth and ongoing operations. He was Chief of the Susquehanna Nation of the Indian Guides.

Bob was a Scout Master with Paoli Troop 147 and received the Silver Beaver Award for his lifetime dedication and active involvement in the Chester County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

He was a lifetime Member of the Steel Plate Fabricators Association, serving as director from 1978-1989 and 1990-1995. He was a lifelong contributor to the Republican National Committee, American Water Works Association and a 50-year Member of the Pennsylvania Society,

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the Upper Main Line YMCA (1416 Berwyn Paoli Road, Berwyn, PA 19312), the Berwyn United Methodist Church (140 Waterloo Avenue, Berwyn, PA 19312) and the Parkinson Research Foundation (www.parkisonhope.org).

Services will be private and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.