Chapter Eternal: Dr. James D. Borge, Nevada-Reno ’41

CHAPTER ETERNAL — Dr. Jim Borge, Nevada-Reno ’41, completed his journey through life on Sept. 12, 2011, He was born in Yerington, Nev., the only child of Dora and Joseph Borge on Jan. 2, 1921. Yerington always brought him fond memories of ranching and farming.

After graduating salutatorian from Yerington High School in 1938, he attended the University of Nevada to pursue chemical engineering. While at the university of Nevada, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and Phi Kappa Phi.

World War II put his education on hold, and he joined the United States Air Corps in 1942. He was called into cadet training in February, 1943, and married his college sweetheart, Emilie A. Turano from Reno, Nev., on Christmas Eve 1943 in Tucson, Ariz.

During his service, he flew with the Flying Tigers under Gen. Chennault. He saw fighter pilot combat duty in the 449th Fighter Squadron and logged more than 230 hours in P38s, P-40s and P-51s. In 1946, he returned to the University of Nevada and graduated with a major in chemistry in 1948. He continued his education at New York State University College of Medicine and graduated Cum Laude as doctor of medicine in 1952.

He served his internship and residency in surgery at Highland Alameda County Hospital, and was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1959, with a subspecialty in cancer surgery. Dr. Borge practiced surgery in Napa until he retired in 1986. During his surgical career, he was elected to the South Western Surgical Congress, The Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery and the East Bay Surgical Society.

An active sportsman all his life, he enjoyed scuba and free diving, but was also a recreational water and snow skier, as well as hunter and fisherman. Dr. Borge is survived by his children, Greg Borge of Golden, Colo.; Lorna Borge of Napa; Tab (Pauia) Borge of Napa; and his grandchildren, Kalen Borge of Arnold, Calif., and Tristan Borge of Napa. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity that most reminds you of him. Some suggestions: Queen of the Valley, Napa Animal Shelter, American Cancer Society, Napa Valley Hospice. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Via the Nappa Valley Register.