Neil H. Borden, Jr.

1931 - 2017
Neil H. "Pete" Borden, Jr., 86, of Fort Myers, Florida, Grand Lake Stream, Maine and Charlottesville, Virgina, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2017 at Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers, Florida from complications following a struggle with dementia.

He was born to Esther Page Borden and Neil H. Borden, Sr. on May 29, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Winchester, MA.

He married his college sweetheart, Beverly Ann (née Bragdon) on June 14, 1953, in Lewiston, Maine on the day they graduated from Bates College; they went on to spend a devoted 64 years together. Having served in the Navy during college, Pete served in the Army following graduation, then went on to earn an MBA (1957) and DBA (1965) at Harvard University.

From 1963 to 1999, Professor Borden enthusiastically taught marketing at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia. Famous for learning students' names and faces before term started, he would call on them by name in the first class. He also taught at IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland and lectured at numerous executive and corporate programs. He served as Associate Dean on several occasions and chaired the Darden Building Committee from 1991-96.

A natural mechanic, carpenter and tinkerer, Pete worked on cars, early American homes, boilers, outboards, farm tractors, and, as he put it, enjoyed 'repairing and maintaining just about anything.' He was passionate about the family summer camp, Kolemook, in Grand Lake Stream, Maine, where he had summered with his grandfather in the 1930s. Using his handy skills, he endlessly improved its facilities and took delight in entertaining his grandchildren every summer.

A founding board member and driving force behind the creation of the Downeast Lakes Land Trust founded in 2001, he was honored to receive their Conservation Award in 2014. The Trust raised over $38 million, purchased 34,000 acres and protected over 300,000 acres with conservation easements during his tenure as chair of the Financial Management Committee.

Pete believed travel was educational and enriching and took his family on extensive camping journeys throughout the US, Europe and North Africa. He and Bev traveled the world, enjoying expeditions to French Polynesia, the Galapagos Islands, Kenya, Costa Rica, Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia and many, many US destinations.

Pete was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Roseanne Marshall, John E.P. Borden and Mardiah Gleeson. He is survived by his wife, Beverly B. Borden and three daughters, Mary Ann Borden-Neary and her husband Gregory M. Borden-Neary, Kimberly Borden Arnold and her husband Robin H. Arnold, and Sarah Borden Holman and her husband John W. Holman, III; as well as five grandchildren, Joyce Bragdon Arnold, Paulina Drew Arnold, John W. Holman, IV, Lillian Page Holman, and Neil Borden Holman.

It was Pete's desire to be cremated and interred at Grand Lake Stream where a memorial service will be held in the summer of 2018. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be sent to Downeast Lakes Land Trust, 4 Water Street, Grand Lake Stream, ME 04668.