Josephine Shober Evans Borie

Josephine Shober Evans Borie died Tuesday, November 15, 2011, at Beaumont, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, after a long Illness. Born Josephine (Jodie) Mather Shober on June 5, 1925, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Edward Wharton Shober Sr. and Catharine Earle Mather of Philadelphia, Jodie grew up in Haverford, Pennsylvania. She attended Haverford Friends School and the Shipley School. In 1946 she wed Allen Evans III. Living at Rehobeth Spring Farm in Strafford, the couple had four sons: Allen Evans IV, Emlen H. Evans, Christopher C. Evans (1952-1986), and Victor M. Evans. In 1964, the family moved to Evans Lane in Haverford. They lived for several years in Torreon, Mexico, where Allen Evans III pursued business interests, before returning to Evans Lane in 1968. Following the death of her husband in 1977, Jodie married Henry P. Borie in 1981. Building on her volunteer work and organizations such as Montgomery County Red Cross, the Devon Horse Show, the Colonial Dames of Philadelphia, and the local polls, Jodie established a successful professional career as a dedicated and innovative fundraiser at a number of prominent non-profit institutions in the Philadelphia area. In the 1950's, as director of fundraising for Montgomery County Office of the American Heart Association, she established the organization's first countywide public fundraising organization. At the Franklin Institute, in the 1970's, she served as president of the volunteer board, revitalizing the Institute's membership. She also chaired the board of Philadelphia's first Super Sunday, the annual block party on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, celebrating the city and raising the public profile of the Institute. In the 1980's, Jodie was membership director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where she developed a wide range of initiatives, substantially increasing membership and contributions. At the Philadelphia Mid-City YWCA, she was a director, fundraising chair and founder of the Blue Triangle Committee, where she initiated the Leader Luncheon honoring women leaders in business and labor. For many years Jodie was vice consul for the Commercial Consulate of Nicaragua, serving the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. As a member of the Colonial Dames, Jodie served as board member, secretary, and chair of the House Committee. While there she was most proud of the welcome receptions she organized for new American citizens following their Swearing-In Ceremony. She was a member of the Merion Cricket Club and a patroness of the Philadelphia Assemblies. She is survived by Allen Evans, Sr. and his wife, Susan H. Evans of Middlesex, Vermont; Emlen H. Evans and Ann Fitch, of Montpelier, Vermont; and Victor M. Evans of Kalapana, Hawaii; grandchildren Allen Evans Jr. of New York City and Charles C. Evans of Salem, Massachusetts; step children Henry P. Borie of Martha's Vineyard and Lysbeth K. B. Borie of Eugene, Oregon; and siblings Edward W. Shober Jr. of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Catherine E. Ross of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews across the country. In her later years she lived at Water's Edge in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and at Beaumont in Bryn Mawr. According to her wishes, services will be held in the spring of 2012 at the Church of the Redeemer at 230 Pennswood Rd. Bryn Mawr, on Friday, May 18 at 3:00. Stuard Funeral Directors of Ardmore will be handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Citizenship Program at the Colonial Dames of America at 160 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103.