Harold Borkan, who had a long and distinguished career in electronic device research and development at RCA as well as in the US government, died on October 12, 2022, at home. He was 95 years old and had lived in Princeton since 1957. Harold felt blessed to have had a loving family which included 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Borkan was born in Elizabeth, NJ where he attended elementary and high schools. He was an active Boy Scout, becoming junior assistant scoutmaster with responsibility for directing Troop 14. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy before graduating from high school and was on active duty during 1945-46 as a Seaman First Class radio technician.
He earned a Bachelor in Science in electrical engineering from Rutgers University in 1950 and was the first Rutgers graduate to receive an offer and serve as a Member of the Technical Staff at RCA Laboratories in Princeton. He was instrumental in establishing Eta Kappa Nu, the honorary electrical engineering fraternity at Rutgers. He was also awarded the MS degree from Rutgers.
At RCA Labs, Mr. Borkan’s main research involved innovative camera tubes for the recording of color television programs, and thin-film transistors which led to the thin computer screens common on all laptop computers and monitors. He was awarded nine patents, was the author of several dozen papers and received two RCA Achievement Awards during his many years at RCA Labs.
Mr. Borkan moved from RCA in 1981 to become Director of the Microelectronics Division of the US Army’s Electronics Technology and Devices Laboratory (ETDL) at Fort Monmouth, NJ. There he was responsible for all the Army’s microelectronics R&D. Four years later, he was promoted to Deputy Director of ETDL. While he served at ETDL, the laboratory twice received the Army Laboratory of the Year Award. He retired in 1990.
Mr. Borkan was a member of the Old Guard of Princeton and president of Community Without Walls, House 1. He also served as public service coordinator of 55-Plus; chairman of the Adult Education Committee and later treasurer of the Jewish Center of Princeton; treasurer of the United Jewish Appeal, and for five years as the Princeton Representative on the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority.
He was married for 52 years to Jean Borkan, who passed away in 2001. He is survived by their three sons, and three daughters-in-law: Gary & Martha Borkan of Melrose, MA; Brad & Anne Borkan, residing in Kew England; and Ronald & Linda Borkan, living in Flagstaff, AZ. His five grandchildren are Daniel, Benjamin, William, Evy and Brittany. His great grandchildren are Ava Borkan and Jasper Borkan. After the passing of his wife Jean, Mr. Borkan was also blessed with a wonderful long-term partner Hazel Stix.
The family has established “The Harold Borkan Endowed Scholarship” at Rutgers School of Engineering. To honor his life, the family will be most grateful for any contributions made to this fund which supports academically talented electrical engineering students in financial need. Please make check to “Rutgers University Foundation” with note “Harold Borkan Endowed Scholarship”. Send to Rutgers University Foundation, PO Box 193, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0193
Funeral services were held Sunday (October 16) at The Jewish Center, Princeton and burial followed at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin, NJ.
Contributions can also be made in his memory to the Princeton Jewish Center.