Thomas Bradley Borne, Chemist & Mathematician, Dies at 84
Dr. Thomas Bradley Borne, physical chemist, swimmer, mathematician, husband, and father, took his last breath on March 4 in hospice in Rahway, N.J., at the age of 84.AWestfield, NJ, resident for 48 years, Tom frequented all the low-key spots like Westfield Memorial Pool, Midowaskin Park, and Westfield Memorial Library.
Known as “Tommy” to his Louisiana family and friends, he was born Aug. 4, 1941, in Rayne, La., the youngest of five. In 1963, he received a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and remained a lifelong LSU Tigers football fan. In 1969 he earned a doctorate from Northwestern University. His wide-ranging career included work simulating CO2 laser ignition of jet fuel, modeling of quantum mechanical scattering, and patenting a device (with fellow inventor Levente L. Koller) to convert human motion into electrical stimulation.
Tom served as Vice President of the Association of Consulting Chemists & Chemical Engineers (ACCCE) and as an active member of the Society for the Advancement of Material & Process Engineering (SAMPE).
While working at Wright-Patt Air Force Base, in Dayton, Ohio, Tom met his future wife, Sylvia, at a cocktail party. The hostess had intended to set each of them up with someone else, but instead they found each other. Married in 1978, they welcomed their only daughter, Lyndi, in 1980. Tom worked for Colgate and Merck and, in 1988, started his own small business, Computations &Analysis. His DIY spirit carried over to his personal life as well, as he enjoyed baking his own bread, making homemade peanut butter and yogurt, and developing his own photographs, among other endeavors.
Tom was empathetic and stubborn, sarcastic and witty, and direct to a fault. He showed his strength and resilience, living with Parkinson’s Disease for over 25 years. Even as his body declined significantly, he remained curious and fascinated by the world, the universe, and the people in it.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 48 years Sylvia; daughter Lyndi; sister-in-law Patsy Borne; brother-inlaw Larry White; nephews Randy Borne and Todd Borne; niece Lisa Lotfin; and dear friends Patricia Eisenstein, William and Linda Yates, and Mickey Cappiello. According to his wishes, his body was donated to science. A celebration of life is being planned for April.
