Donald V. Borst, age 86, of Knoxville, passed away on July 17.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Borst was celebrated on Aug. 5 at All Saints Church, with entombment following at Highland Memorial Cemetery.
Mr. Borst was born in Staten Island, N.Y., in 1936 and he retired in 1999 to Vonore. He was the president and CEO of Millennium Inorganic Chemicals, where he retired.
He earned his bachelor’s of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1957. He then completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School in 1974. As a chemical engineering student, he worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Rohm and Haas.
During his career, Mr. Borst was senior vice president of CF Industries Inc., one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash fertilizers in North America.
He also served as president and CEO of Agritrans Corp. In 1984, he joined SCM Chemicals as vice president, and two years later he was appointed president and CEO of the company’s global business. In this position, he managed the second-largest U.S. producer of titanium dioxide and the third-largest in the world. It was among the most modern and productive titanium dioxide facilities.
Upon retirement, Mr. Borst received the 1997 Industry Statesman Award from the National Paint and Coatings Association. In 1987, he took part in the chemical engineering department’s Distinguished Alumni Seminar Series at UT-K.
He also served the university as chair of the Advisory Council for Enhancement under UT chancellor William T. Snyder. He was the 2001 Nathan W. Dougherty Award recipient and was a 2002-03 member of the UT Tickle College of Engineering’s board of advisers.
Mr. Borst was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent Henry Borst and Clara Dell Stair Borst; sister, Linda Louise Borst Jachetti; brothers, Joseph Rosco Borst and Vincent Joseph Borst.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jane Harber Borst; children, Mary Jane Borst Myers, Vincent Thomas Borst (Linda), Robert Harber Borst (Mary), and Mark Andrew Borst (Danthika); grandchildren, Stephen Aaron Myers (Miki), Andrew Donald Borst, Ethan Alexander Borst; great-grandchildren Cooper Aaron Myers and Zoe Adele Myers; sisters, Marlene Borst Monforte and Clara Borst Defazio; sister-in-law, Betty Claire Harber Jones (Kenneth); numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Dr. Steven Prince and the nurses at Parkwest Medical Center. Memorials in Mr. Borst’s name may be made to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, 318 N Gay St., Suite 100, Knoxville, TN 37917.
