Dr. Björn Nils Anders Lamborn

Dr. Björn Nils Anders Lamborn

Former FAU physics professor and department chair was an enthusiastic member of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi World

Dr. Björn Nils Anders Lamborn, a retired Florida Atlantic Professor and former Department chair from 1970 to 1974 and again in 1979 until 1991, died from a bad fall as he was walking in the evening of January 11th.  He was placed on life support until January 14^th, when the family learned that he would never be able to recover.  The Boca Raton resident was 78 years old.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Dr. Lamborn was the son of Rolf Anders Lamborn, a lawyer, political writer and war correspondent during the WWII and the Korean War, for Sweden’s largest newspaper and his wife, Florence Lamborn, who translated Swedish children’s books, such as Pippi Longstocking, and also worked as a war correspondent for Reuters during the Korean War.  Mr. and Mrs. Lamborn moved to the United States to acquire and operate a newspaper in Florida.

Dr. Lamborn attended boarding school in Sweden, where he earned his Baccalaureate, after which he attended The University of California at Berkeley, where he entered as a junior, graduated with a BS degree and a Master’s of Science degree.  He then attended The University of Florida in Gainesville, where he earned a doctorate degree in Theoretical Plasma Physics in 2 years at the age of 22.  He was the youngest PhD in Plasma Physics in the world.

He worked in Munich, Germany for 2-3 years at the Max Plank Institute doing research, before returning to the United States to be hired by FAU as faculty in 1965. He worked at FAU until January 2002, taking one year off to teach as a guest professor at Dartmouth College.  Dr. Lamborn was instrumental in getting the PhD program in physics approved in 1988 at FAU and oversaw its implementation.  He was Associate Dean of Operations of the College of Science from 1998 until 2001.  He retired in 2001 and was given the status of Emeritus Professor in January 2002, continuing with his research from 2001-2002.

Those who knew Björn will remember him as a kind, reserved person, who led by example and inspired others by his enthusiasm to reach greater heights.  Dr. Luc Wille, Professor of Physics and Interim Chair of the Physics Department at FAU, whom Björn hired in 1988, was quoted, “By trying to articulate Björn’s contributions to the department, I came to realize how much he had accomplished and how much he meant to me. Too often one takes these things for granted and it’s only in hindsight that one appreciates the greatness of the person. His dry sense of humor and the twinkle in his eye livened up faculty meetings. I have the deepest respect for Björn.  He will be missed, but his legacy at FAU lives on.”

In the Pembroke Welch Corgi world, Björn was also very active.  The Lamborn family had grown up with corgis and Björn owned his first corgi when he started working at FAU. Stormy went with him to the office every day.  Quoted from Patty Gailey, PWCCA Corresponding Secretary, “Björn was the founding member of the Sunshine Pembroke Welch Corgi club.  He was a long-time member of the Pembroke Welch Corgi Club of America, the national parent club for the breed.  He served two board terms for PWCCA.  He founded and was President of the Charitable Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of Pembroke Welsh Corgis and other canines; accomplished through providing scholarships to veterinary students, education of Pembroke breeders, funding research into various canine health issues, and funding disaster relief trailers throughout the country that allow household pets to be cared for during natural disasters.  He will be missed by many.  He is frequently described as ‘always a gentleman’ and many recalled his infectious laugh.”

Survivors include Dr. Lamborn’s sister, Ingrid Bortner and her husband Leigh of Baltimore, a nephew, Bret Bortner, his wife, Amy Bortner and three children, Katherine, Eve and Mason, a niece, Birgitta Williamson, her husband, David Williamson and their children, Sophie and Charlotte.  Björn had a sister, Birgitta Durner, who perished in an auto accident in 1980.

A funeral service will be held at the Glick Family Funeral Home in Boca Raton on 3600 N. Federal Highway on Saturday February 27^th at 11:00 am.  A reception at the funeral home will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Pembroke Welch Corgi Club of America. Established by Dr. Lamborn himself, this charitable foundation was created for the welfare of Corgis and other canines. 

Contributions can be sent to:

PWCCA Charitable Trust

Attn: Adrienne Saffel

P. O. Box 33

Versailles, KY 40383-0033

As an alternative, contributions can be made to the Hospice at St. Mary's trauma center:

Hospice by the Sea

5300 East Avenue

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

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