In Loving Memory of

Scott Eugene Borg

March 24, 1951, to July 31, 2025

Oh Scott, how can we possibly capture everything that made you such a special human to so many?  You were born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and had great love for your family and friends there plus a strong attachment to the beautiful land.  We all remember your stories of adventures in the mountains and canyons.  And your extensive knowledge about the area's history, including labor union activist Joe Hill.  You were a proud graduate of the University of Utah and a fan of the folk singer Utah Phillips.

Your rebellious streak was clear early on and throughout your life.  But also your brilliant mind and interest in helping others always shone through.  While at the University of Utah, you contributed to a book about The Northern Shoshoni, and the author credits you with "marshaling the evidence and in putting together a rough draft of the material on irrigation at Fort Hall." After earning a Master's degree in history at Rutgers University, you entered Harvard Law School in 1977 and worked for DNA People's Legal Services on the Navajo Reservation the summer after your first year. We had unforgettable outings to places like Canyon de Chelly and the Grand Canyon that summer, and established life-long friendships.  Your friends often joined you on travels around the country even after you graduated from law school and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Indigenous people were the focus of your entire legal career. You represented Tribes and Indigenous individuals at a series of law firms in Albuquerque, including Leubben Hughes & Kelly, and Rosenfelt Barlow & Borg. In1985 you argued a case on Pueblo land rights in the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1991, you and one of your partners began reaching out to underrepresented communities in Navajo land and explaining the rights and remedies available to injured individuals and families.  Your efforts led to more than 30 successful years of giving help to victims of negligence.  You personally developed expertise in medical malpractice cases and a reputation for caring for your clients and their families.  Ultimately you formed your own firm with Paul Barber:  Barber & Borg.

You welcomed friends to Albuquerque and took them on adventures to places like Canyonlands National Park and Durango, Colorado. Not to mention those adventures to concerts far and wide.  And trips to Muir Woods, California, and Tofino, British Columbia!  Your friends have fond memories of attending Santo Domingo Pueblo on festival days. You and Garon visited friends at their homes and also met with them in places like Las Vegas and San Diego.  And we had wonderful visits with Garon to the wildlife refuge at Bosque del Apache.

One of the things that always stood out about you was your commitment to family, especially your son Garon Coriz.  We are all still mourning his tragic death and know how devastating it was to you.  You put your heart and soul into raising him and he was a phenomenal human before the world lost him far too soon.  And you served as a parent to Dorella, Shanna, and Hayley too, and radiated immense joy about their children. You also traveled a lot with your dad, Wayne M. Borg, as a child, supported your mom Donna, and maintained close ties to your brothers and sisters.

You were a helpful neighbor for nearly 40 years at your house near UNM, and often joined lively conversations with neighbors over meals.  All of us will miss chatting with you about history and politics and sports, and will miss your love of music, adventure, and travel. You had an amazing breadth of knowledge about history, especially World War II.

May you rest in peace and may your memory be a blessing.