Stephen Bordas in March, 2010 with Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President of Fordham, when Bordas was honored with the first Sursum Corda Award. Photo by Chris Taggart

Fordham mourns the loss of Stephen Bordas, associate vice president of the enrollment group, who died on Friday, Nov. 11.

A member of the Fordham community for more than 30 years, Bordas was known as much for the caring work culture he cultivated as his supervision the day-to-day tasks of the registrar’s office.

When he received the Archbishop Hughes Medal in 1997 for 20 years of service to Fordham, he was lauded for innovative initiatives such as the first mail registration process for freshmen and a sophisticated interactive voice system.

In March 2010, he was one of three Fordham employees to be honored with the inaugural Sursum Corda award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the life and mission of the University.

He was cited as a creative and compassionate man who had shepherded many undergraduates through four years of work-study employment in his office, only to have them continue to work with him after graduation.

“He has built a family-like environment in the enrollment services offices of the enrollment group that embodies the values of cura personalis and magis so central to Jesuit education,” the Sursum Corda citation read.

“His approach to work with colleagues and students alike is guided by those values and recognition of the mutual dependence that enables all of us to make our way in this world.”

Peter A. Stace, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment, called Bordas a dear friend, a caring mentor and dedicated colleague.

“He always told us, ‘I am here for you guys,’ and to his dying day, he was,” Stace said.”

“Steve’s dedication and commitment live on in the those whose lives he touched.  Fordham will be forever grateful to Steve for his life as an inspiration to all; an exemplar of the Jesuit ideal of selfless service to others.”

A viewing will be held at Clark’s Funeral Home, 2104 Saw Mill River Road in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. on Tuesday, November 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. For details, please call (914) 962-3333.

Ram Van transportation to Clark Funeral Home will be available. Vans will depart at 1:30 p.m. from the front of the McGinley Center and returning an hour after they arrive in Yorktown heights. There will be a sign in the window displaying “Clark Funeral Home”.

Please reserve a seat in advance by calling (719) 817-4346 or e-mail ramvan@fordham.edu. The trip is approximately one hour each way.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. at the Fordham University Church at the Rose Hill campus. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Cancer Society are requested.

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