Hall of Fame
A 1960 graduate of the College, Robert Bornstein excelled in three sports for the Lions spanning from 1956-1960. He finished his collegiate career earning nine varsity letters in three different sports. He was awarded the Hammond-D’Errico Award for outstanding athletic ability and served as the chairman of the men’s athletic association at the College. During his time at the College, he played under legendary coaches, George Ackerman, Bob Salois, Ed Brink, and Roy Van Ness.
As a rookie, Bob suffered a fractured ankle in the football pre-season. The injury did not hold him back as he was able to return in time for the season-finale as the Lions took on cross-state rival, Montclair State. He followed up his rookie season by helping the Lions improve from a 0-6 record to a 4-3-1 record in 1957. By the time his senior season rolled along, he was part of the Lions’ football squad that boasted a 7-1 record, while serving as the squad’s co-captain. He was a starting tackle for the Lions and offense as well as a starting linebacker on defense. He was part of a unit that held the opposition to just 45 points in his final season, while racking up 201 points.
On the hardwood, he was a varsity starter for three seasons and managed to rack up some scoring offense as well, while always considering himself as a defensive stopper for the Lions. His specialty was marking the opponent’s high-scorer, a task he excelled at during his career.
As a member of the Lions’ track and field team, he excelled as a discus thrower and flirted with the school-record, a mark he just missed several times during his career. He would earn three letters in track as well.
After graduation from the College in 1960, Bob worked for six years at Mt. Pleasant Junior High School in Livingston, NJ, where he coached football, basketball, baseball, and also became the athletic director. While working in Livingston, he was able to serve as a liaison for the Lion football team, scouting rivals Montclair State for several seasons.
His next career path led him to a full-time staff position at Montclair State College, as a physical education assistant professor. In addition to his role on the staff, he also coached football, basketball, and baseball there.
In 1967, he was hired as a physical education teacher and head basketball coach at New Brunswick High School. He coached the basketball team to a 135-72 record over the next 12 years. His teams won several conference and area championships, whiling finishing as a state semifinalist one year. He coached a team to a perfect regular-season during his tenure with the program. A two-time Coach of the Year recipient in 1970 and 1975, he produced a high school All-American in Gary Brokaw who went to excel at Notre Dame before playing professionally for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks.
His love of athletics has extended into the officiating ranks, having served as a high school football official for 40 years. He worked several state tournament games during his tenure and estimates he worked nearly 600 varsity and sub-varsity games during his time as an official.
Upon leaving New Brunswick High School, he was selected as the Chairman of the Health and Physical Education Department at the North Brunswick Township High School. He remained in that role for four years before becoming the Director of Student Services for the Somerset Vocational and Technical Schools. He would spend the next 13 years in that role before retiring in 1996.
In 2001, he was welcomed into the New Brunswick Hall of Fame and continues his involvement in athletics as a high school swimming official. An avid golfer and fisherman, his main hobby is his seven grandchildren.
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