Dr. Debra J. Borkovich

Dr. Debra J. Borkovich, 74, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Debra was preceded by her parents, Andrew and Jean (Mrozinski) Borkovich, and was a long-time resident of Harwick. Debra was a gracious, vibrant, and accomplished woman. She was a business anthropologist and a digital/agile ethnographic researcher for several universities and emerging tech start-ups as a strategic business consultant, small business advocate, and mentor. She was also a licensed Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPMC) and taught Information Science, Cybersecurity, and Project Management courses as an adjunct professor at Middle Georgia State and Mercer Universities. Honors included being named one of the "Best Women in Business" by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; winner of the "2022 Ben Bauman Award for Excellence" from IACIS USA; "Small Business Advocate of the Year" by the Society of American Military Engineers; Small Business Administration "National Eisenhower Award"; Environmental Protection Agency "National OSDBU Director's Award"; six Department of Defense "National Nunn-Perry Mentor-Protege Awards"; three "National IT Corporation Quality Awards"; two MGA State University "Adjunct Faculty Dean's Teaching Awards'; recipient of the first annual IACIS USA "Liebowitz Outstanding Doctoral Research Award"; and "Keynote Speaker" for the 2022 IACIS Europe conference. Debra also participated as a frequent panelist for the "White House Roundtable of Private Sector Best Business Practices."Prior to entering academia, Debra was employed by the National Center for Defense Robotics as its director. Contracts Management and the General Electric Company Naval Systems as its Senior Manager, Lead Negotiator, and Facility Security Officer (FSO). Before embarking on a corporate career, Debra worked for the U.S. Navy as a civilian employee contracts specialist, and an earlier career included 13 years performing on tour as a professional musician (operatic soprano), singing the lead roles in Madame Butterfly, Suor Angelica, Tosca, Rigoletto, and Falstaff. Merry Widow, Verdi Requiem, and many others. It was during an audition with Luciano Pavarotti that he told Debra she was a soprano and not a mezzo soprano as she had initially been trained.Debra earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education & Music from Duquesne University, a Master of Music Degree in voice from the Catholic University of America, and a Doctor of Science Degree in Information Science & Communication from Robert Morris University. Robert Skovira, her professor, mentor, and collaborator there, recalled that she was always ready and eager to work on all those papers, which earned publication and distinction. Debra espoused and lived a multicultural philosophy that education is a lifelong learning mission. But perhaps most importantly, Debra had a gift for making people feel special and welcome. Her younger cousins particularly appreciated her devotion and attention to them during her visits. They cherished the fact that she was completely present to them and was kind and positive. Debra's many cousins include the late John and Ruth Ann. Surviving are cousins, Sally and her husband, Mehary, and children, Robel and Anabela, Bob and wife, Jan, and children, Holly and Bobby, Stephen, Tom and wife, Joanne, Dan and wife, Anndee, and children, Jiles and Alfred, and cousins, David, and Mark, Jean, Joan, Christine, and Marie. Also, Debra leaves behind her very dear friend, Rich. Friends will be received for visitation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in CHARLES B. JARVIE SPRINGDALE FUNERAL HOME INC., 801 Pgh. St., where a blessing service will commence at 11 a.m. A private burial at Mt. Airy Cemetery will follow. www.jarviefuneralhome.com.