Jan Borja, former New Trier principal, dies

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Caption: Jan Borja

Updated: February 6, 2012 1:50PM

Less than a year after she retired as principal of New Trier Township High School’s Northfield campus, Jan Borja died of cancer Saturday.

“She began each new school year . . . with a hug line for returning staff, and the line of people waiting for her warm embrace would be out the door and down the hall,” New Trier District 203 Superintendent Linda Yonke stated. “She truly made New Trier a better place.”

Janet M. Borja, 65, of Glenview, led the reopening of New Trier “West” as a freshmen-only school in 2001 and remained principal of the Northfield campus until she retired last June.

“Jan didn’t just help create New Trier’s Northfield campus,” said the school’s current principal Paul Waechtler, who was assistant principal while Borja led the school. “She had a positive influence on thousands upon thousands of students, staff and parents through her roles as a caring and outstanding teacher, adviser and leader.”

There will be no school at New Trier on Wednesday, so students and faculty may attend a memorial service for Ms. Borja, which will be held in the Cornog Auditorium, at New Trier’s Northfield campus.

Ms. Borja started her New Trier career in 1970 as a German and Spanish teacher. New Trier officials report she soon took on leadership roles, such as chairing the freshmen and sophomore girls adviser system and the classical languages department.

In preparing for the reopening of the Northfield campus in 2001, Ms. Borja oversaw the development of curriculum, student services and transition services, specifically for 14-year-olds. She also integrated service learning into the freshmen curriculum and introduced the anti-bullying program, “Names Can Really Hurt.”

“Her legacy is carried in the hearts of New Trier alumni, faculty and staff around the world,” Waechtler said.

“The love and support of the entire New Trier community goes out to Jan’s family at this difficult time,” Yonke said.

Ms. Borja is survived by her husband, Jesus, daughter Kristin (Michael) Endre, son James, and her mother Edith Harris Johnson. She also is survived by her brother Richard (Elaine) Harris, sister Jean (Richard) Bukowski, and grandson Charles Endre. Her father, Alfred Harris, preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow at the Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie. The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Cornog Auditorium of New Trier’s Northfield campus, at 7 Happ Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Kellogg Cancer Center, c/o NorthShore University HealthSystem Foundation, 1033 University Place, Suite 450, Evanston, Ill., 60201, or at www.northshore.org/kellogg-cancer-center.