Borger, John Philip (68), originally of Parkersburg, West Virginia (by way of the Planet Krypton), passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on December 16, following a long and fulfilling life full of love and accomplishment. He is remembered by Judy, his wife of 45 years; his three children Jennifer Schmid, Christopher Borger, and Nicholas Borger; his six grandchildren Joseph Borger, Matthew Borger, Daniel Borger, James Borger, Oliver Schmid, and Elena Schmid, as well as countless others. John leaves behind an indelible legacy as an incredible husband, supportive father, and warm and loving grandfather. A decorated attorney and life long proponent of the freedom of the press, John took great pride in his work representing media companies in their quest to speak truth to power and equip the public with the facts they needed to make important decisions. In 2018, his colleagues in the Communications section of the American Bar Association recognized his monumental contributions to media law by bestowing upon him the honorific Champion of the First Amendment. Ever a journalist at heart, John recognized the unique power that narrative has in bringing people together. "I don't believe in heaven, I don't believe in hell, but I do believe in stories" he said. One branch of story-telling that John was particularly passionate about was superhero comic books. He believed that by looking to the heroic exploits of characters like Superman for guidance, one could live a life of virtue. To pass these lessons on to future generations, John donated his collection to the Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota, establishing the John Philip Borger Comic Book Collection. John's family will host a gathering at the Andersen Library on January 2, 2020 from 4-8 PM, with a program from 6-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, John and his family ask that any donations be made to the collection that bears his name so that the collection can be maintained for the benefit of those who wish to study the stories that helped John lead a life worth remembering.

Published on December 22, 2019