| Notes |
- Buffalo NY Courier Express
Ervin J. Borth, dean of Buffalo's
vocational teachers, collapsed
and died about 1 yesterday
afternoon in a classroom at
McKinley Vocational High School.
He was 69.
Mr. Borth w»s stricken a few
minutes after the start of his
class in basic metal work. He had
just risen from his .desk to
demonstrate the use of a lathe
for his students when he fell to
the floor. A student summoned
aid.
When members of Fire Rescue
Squad failed to revive him, Mr.
Borth was pronounced dead by a
physician from Kenmore Mercy
Hospital.
Mr. Borth was planning to
retire at the close of the school
year after teaching at McKinley
and the old Black Rock Vocational
High School for 36 years.
Fellow teachers characterized
him »s a man who worked unstintingly
for the good of his students.
"He always thought it was
his job to make good citizens as
well as good craftsmen," one faculty
member said.
During school vacation periods
he often worked in local plants,
and one of his greatest joys was
meeting a former student on the
job. "It really gave him a thrill
when he saw one of his 'boys'
working and doing a good job," a
friend said.
Mr, Borth entered the teaching
profession only after lengthy consideration
and a decision that he
wanted to devote his life to youth.
He had studied four years at the
University of Buffalo and was
about to receive his degree as a
dentist when he changed his mind
and became a teacher.
Born in Buffalo, he attended
Public School 48, Masten Park
High School, UB and the old
State Normal School.
Mr. Borth joined the faculty
at McKinley the day the school
was opening in September,
1923. Since that day he never
taught at another school.
He taught science and mathematics
classes at McKinley before
specializing in machine shop instruction.
As an added duty, he
served as the school's certified
Red Cross instructor, teaching
students first-aid methods.
His enthusiasm for teaching
was imbued in his daughter, Miss
Audrey Borth, who is now an
English instructor at the Laboratory
School of the University of
Chicago.
An avid gardener, Mr. Borth
took just pride In his huge rose
garden adjacent to his home at
460 Winspear Ave. He also devoted
his leisure time to fishing
in Lake Ontario, near Wilson.
He was a member of St.
Aloysius Gonzaga Church, the
Buffalo Teachers Federation,
the Schoolmasters Assn. and the
New York State Teachers Assn.
Only two weeks ago he was
among a group of retiring teach-
ers honored at a banquet of the
Schoolmasters group. Earlier this
year, students and faculty sponsored
an "Erv Borth Night" In
his honor.
Besides his daughter, he is survived
by his wife, the former
Alice Haggerty, and a sister, Mrs.
Emma Milsap. Funeral arrangements
are incomplete.
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1886 - 1956 (~ 69 years)