By Sharon Coolidge
Enquirer staff writer

Robert Borcer always felt his life's calling was to educate young people, teaching at Covington Catholic High School, Our Lady of Angels High School and Woodward High School. He died at age 90 last July.

In death, the Xavier University graduate has carried on his mission to teach.

Borcer left $2.5 million to Xavier University's science departments.

"It's a fitting legacy to him," said friend Mark Kalb, the executor of Borcer's will. "He was always a teacher."

Borcer chose the science department at the suggestion of Kalb, who loved science as a child.

"This generous gift will enable us to enhance the quality of our biology, chemistry and physics departments," said Roger Fortin, academic vice president and provost.

Borcer himself was never a student of the sciences.

He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Maryville College in 1936 before starting a television repair company in the early 1950s.

He was part owner of the company, but felt the tug to teach, Kalb said. In 1968, Borcer earned a master's degree in English from Xavier and embarked on a teaching career.

Kalb and Borcer met in the mid-1970s, and they became fast friends. Borcer was married just one year and had no children or living relatives, Kalb said.

Until Thursday, Borcer's longtime friend Robert Stallard, 81, didn't know about the donation, but when he heard about it, he said he wasn't surprised. "It fits with his personality that he'd give a donation to Xavier," said Stallard.

E-mail scoolidge@enquirer.com