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JAMES JEREMIAH THOMAS BORGES III (JIMMY BORGES) June 1, 1935 - May 30, 2016 James Jeremiah Thomas Borges III died peacefully at his Honolulu home in the arms of his family on May 30, 2016, two days before his 81st birthday. He was born June 1, 1935 on Self Lane in Kalihi. Jimmy attended St. Louis College (known now as St. Louis School) until age 12 when his family moved to Oakland, Calif. There he graduated from St. Elizabeth High School and attended San Francisco State College, gaining football honors at both schools while performing in rallies and competing in various singing competitions in the Bay Area. He also enjoyed a brief career in semi-pro baseball in Oakland. Jimmy's 60-year singing career ran the gamut of intimate jazz clubs in San Francisco, Vancouver and Montreal, to the showrooms, theaters and concert halls of New York, Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro, Japan and New Zealand. In Hawaii he performed at Knight's Palace in Kalihi and Keone's and Trappers in Waikiki followed by engagements at many other venues and festivals. Known as a "crooner" for his velvety renditions of jazz classics, Jimmy was the only singer ever allowed complete access to Frank Sinatra's musical library of over 2,000 arrangements which were performed with the Honolulu Symphony and Hawaii Pops Orchestras. His film career included episodes of "Hawaii Five-O," "Magnum P.I.," and made-for-television movies. His local television career included hosting his own television show "Honolulu AM," the game show "Let's Go To The Races," and various telethons. His voice was immediately recognizable in many national and local commercials including United Airlines, Sunkist Oranges, Primo Beer and Safeway stores. Throughout his life, Jimmy shared his skills and knowledge, often as a mentor for up-and-coming singers and also gave his time to many nonprofits. He was a Honolulu Police Commissioner and served on the boards of the Institute for Human Services (IHS) and PBS Hawaii. One of Jimmy's last performances was a PBS Hawaii concert produced for his friends so he could tell them his cancer had returned. Three hundred thousand dollars was raised that night to establish the Jimmy Borges Endowed Vocal Scholarship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The scholarship will be awarded to vocalists from Hawaii high schools. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 33 years Vicki Bergeron-Borges; his loving daughter Steffanie Borges-Juergenson and her devoted husband Randy Juergenson; brothers Allan Borges, Donald Borges and sister Carolyn Borges-Warren; and numerous special nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his father James J. Borges, Jr., mother Louise Oku Borges and sister Cynthia Borges. He was previously married to the former Shizuko Yagi, mother of his daughter Steffanie. Visitation will be 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, 1184 Bishop Street, followed at noon by a funeral Mass. His ashes will be scattered by canoe from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 12, followed by a Celebration of Life in the hotel's Monarch Room from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aloha attire is appropriate but the family asks that no shorts or slippers be worn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jimmy Borges Endowed Vocal Scholarship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Make checks payable to UH Foundation with a note indicating "Jimmy Borges Endowed Scholarship" and mailed to UH Foundation, Attn: Malia Peters, P.O. Box 11270, Honolulu, HI, 96828-0270 or online at www.uhfoundation.org/JimmyBorgesEndowedScholarship. Funeral and Mass arrangements are being handled by Ballard Family Moanalua Mortuary, (808) 833-8811. Those interested in signing the guest book electronically may do so at www.ballardfamilymoanaluamortuary.com.
JAMES JEREMIAH THOMAS BORGES III (JIMMY BORGES) June 1, 1935 - May 30, 2016 James Jeremiah Thomas Borges III died peacefully at his Honolulu home in the arms of his family on May 30, 2016, two days before his 81st birthday. He was born June 1, 1935 on Self Lane in Kalihi. Jimmy attended St. Louis College (known now as St. Louis School) until age 12 when his family moved to Oakland, Calif. There he graduated from St. Elizabeth High School and attended San Francisco State College, gaining football honors at both schools while performing in rallies and competing in various singing competitions in the Bay Area. He also enjoyed a brief career in semi-pro baseball in Oakland. Jimmy's 60-year singing career ran the gamut of intimate jazz clubs in San Francisco, Vancouver and Montreal, to the showrooms, theaters and concert halls of New York, Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro, Japan and New Zealand. In Hawaii he performed at Knight's Palace in Kalihi and Keone's and Trappers in Waikiki followed by engagements at many other venues and festivals. Known as a "crooner" for his velvety renditions of jazz classics, Jimmy was the only singer ever allowed complete access to Frank Sinatra's musical library of over 2,000 arrangements which were performed with the Honolulu Symphony and Hawaii Pops Orchestras. His film career included episodes of "Hawaii Five-O," "Magnum P.I.," and made-for-television movies. His local television career included hosting his own television show "Honolulu AM," the game show "Let's Go To The Races," and various telethons. His voice was immediately recognizable in many national and local commercials including United Airlines, Sunkist Oranges, Primo Beer and Safeway stores. Throughout his life, Jimmy shared his skills and knowledge, often as a mentor for up-and-coming singers and also gave his time to many nonprofits. He was a Honolulu Police Commissioner and served on the boards of the Institute for Human Services (IHS) and PBS Hawaii. One of Jimmy's last performances was a PBS Hawaii concert produced for his friends so he could tell them his cancer had returned. Three hundred thousand dollars was raised that night to establish the Jimmy Borges Endowed Vocal Scholarship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The scholarship will be awarded to vocalists from Hawaii high schools. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 33 years Vicki Bergeron-Borges; his loving daughter Steffanie Borges-Juergenson and her devoted husband Randy Juergenson; brothers Allan Borges, Donald Borges and sister Carolyn Borges-Warren; and numerous special nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his father James J. Borges, Jr., mother Louise Oku Borges and sister Cynthia Borges. He was previously married to the former Shizuko Yagi, mother of his daughter Steffanie. Visitation will be 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, 1184 Bishop Street, followed at noon by a funeral Mass. His ashes will be scattered by canoe from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 12, followed by a Celebration of Life in the hotel's Monarch Room from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aloha attire is appropriate but the family asks that no shorts or slippers be worn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jimmy Borges Endowed Vocal Scholarship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Make checks payable to UH Foundation with a note indicating "Jimmy Borges Endowed Scholarship" and mailed to UH Foundation, Attn: Malia Peters, P.O. Box 11270, Honolulu, HI, 96828-0270 or online at www.uhfoundation.org/JimmyBorgesEndowedScholarship. Funeral and Mass arrangements are being handled by Ballard Family Moanalua Mortuary, (808) 833-8811. Those interested in signing the guest book electronically may do so at www.ballardfamilymoanaluamortuary.com.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
