With heavy hearts, we share the news of the passing of a legendary teacher, Dorothy “Debby” Borg. Debby passed away yesterday at Jersey Shore Hospital after an illness. She was 77.
Debby was our original Latin teacher and had the distinction of being the first teacher hired by Mr. Pacelli when he founded Oak Hill Academy in 1981. She began her OHA career in the 1981-82 school year and retired 27 years later in June 2008. Debby briefly returned in the spring of 2010 to help with a staffing void. She was never too far from OHA , still being used as a consultant and Latin guru for years! Mr. Pacelli remarked that “Debby brought humor, immense knowledge of Latin(spoken with a Texas/Louisiana accent) and teaching, as well as dedication to her students and Oak Hill Academy.”
Debby’s 7th and 8th grade students scored remarkably well on the National Latin Exam, year in and year out. Some of the local high schools actually had to create advanced sections of Latin to accommodate incoming students from Oak Hill.
Debby had given her students a lifetime of wisdom and knowledge. She instilled a work ethic and a sense of responsibility. Debby helped establish Oak Hill Academy for what it is today.
In 2008, OHA named the 8th grade graduation Latin Award as the ” Dorothy Borg Award for Latin.”
Debby was predeceased by her husband Charles “Chip” in 2014 and her son Darren (OHA Class of 1991) in 2016. She is survived by her son Brent (OHA Class of 1986), daughter- in-law Kelly and 5 grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being handled through Ely’s Funeral Home (https://www.elyfuneralhome.com/ )in Neptune.
