Final Salute

CMDR James Robert Borberg, US Navy (Ret.), age 95, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away on January 9, 2026.

James (Jim) was born in his family home and raised in Wellington, Missouri. From an early age, he demonstrated leadership and a strong sense of service, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and lettering in both basketball and softball during high school. Jim graduated with honors from the University of Missouri at Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology), where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. During his college years, he was a member of Tau Beta Pi and Theta Tau scholastic fraternities, Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering fraternity, and Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity.

Following graduation, Jim joined the United States Navy as a commissioned officer in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps, where he served with distinction. This included service in Vietnam during the war. While serving, he earned a Master of Mechanical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and retired from the Navy after 20 years with the rank of Commander.

After his military retirement, Jim joined the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) as an engineer and later became its General Manager. He was committed to mentoring future professionals and founded the HRSD apprentice program in the early 1980s. In recognition of his lasting impact, the James Borberg Award was established in 2015 to honor the apprentice graduate with the highest-grade point average. Jim retired from HRSD in 1997. Throughout his distinguished career at HRSD, Jim held numerous leadership roles, including Director and President of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Director and Treasurer of the Water Environment Research Foundation, and Chairman of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Management Advisory Group. He was appointed by Governor Charles Robb to serve on the Lower James River Hampton Roads Basin Committee and provided environmental advisory services to New York City at its request. A registered Professional Engineer and Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, Jim was an active member of several professional organizations, including the Virginia Water Pollution Control Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the American Public Works Association.

His environmental leadership earned him many honors, including Governor George Allen’s “Friend of the Bay” Award, the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers’ “Engineer of the Year” Award, the Water Environment Federation’s “William D. Hatfield Award,” and the Association of Clean Water Agencies’ “Distinguished Performance” and “Environmental” Awards. As General Manager of HRSD, he stressed concern for the environment, compliance with all environmental permit requirements, and economical operation. In 2010, he was inducted into the National Association of Clean Water Agencies Hall of Fame.

A few years after joining the Navy, Jim met and married his first wife, Jayne, in Japan. Together, they shared 45 years of marriage. After Jayne’s passing, Jim found companionship again with Beverly, whom he married and shared nearly 25 years of marriage, where they spent many years traveling and visiting countries across all seven continents. His main hobby was sailing, and over the years, he sailed many boats, including two he built himself. He competed in sailboat racing from his first race in 1962 through his final race 53 years later. He served twice as Commodore of the Broad Bay Sailing Association and was a member of the Hampton Yacht Club. His other interests included woodworking, building model sailing ships, and model railroading.

Jim is survived by his wife, Beverly Anne Levert Gehlert, and children, Ronda (Karl Shulenburg) Borberg-Shulenburg, David (Heather Colliander) Gehlert, and Barbara (Kevin) Lederer. Grandchildren Lauren (RD) Cathey, Emily (Holton) Chason, Kallan and Aven Gehlert, Will (Ginny) Lederer, Anne Levert (Tyler) Dillon, and Reine Lederer, and great-granddaughter, Grier Cathey. He is preceded in death by his first wife Jayne Begg Cumberledge, granddaughter Elise, and brother Donald Borberg.

Memorial donations may be made to Edmarc Hospice for Children or the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.
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Published in:Virginian Pilot
from January 17, 2026