JAMES G. BORDAS JR.

He grew up in Charleston, WV, as the oldest of nine children. He was a fierce protector of his brothers and sisters, earning him the title of toughest kid on the block. From a young age, he helped support his family with a double paper route, being a school janitor while still in middle school and then as a clerk at Kroger.

At Charleston Catholic he played on a state championship football team and received the Mike Sayfie MVP award voted on by his teammates. His coaches’ acclaims that he would tackle a buzzsaw earned him the nickname “Buzzsaw”.

Jim put God first and his family was not far behind. In 1972, he met, Linda, the woman who would become his wife at a training session for WVU dormitory resident assistants. They married after nine months and shared a 47-year honeymoon.

The pride of his life was his two sons, Jamie and Ben. He coached them in baseball, football and hockey. He taught them far more about life than sports and molded them into the two men who were his pride and joy. Countless young men in the Ohio Valley benefitted not only from his coaching skills, but more importantly, his example as a gentleman, husband, father and person of integrity. There are many he claimed as a “third son”.

Jim thought it was a privilege to be a lawyer. He was a co-founder, with his wife Linda, of the law firm of Bordas and Bordas with offices in Wheeling and Moundsville, WV, St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, PA. Jim championed the causes of minorities, sought out injustice, and evened the playing field for David against Goliath. His cases were featured on 60 Minutes, Inside Edition and CNN. He was named Best Lawyer in West Virginia and was recognized by Super Lawyers year after year. He established an Anti-bullying program at high schools in the Ohio Valley, awarding scholarship money to those recognized by their schools as best demonstrating those ideals. His firm received the Governor’s Service Award and was also named Pro Bono Firm of the Year.

His philanthropy and support of organizations in the area was recognized by Youth Services System as their 2014 Good Samaritan. He was also named as the 2016 Wheeling YMCA Light of the Valley. In 2018, Pope Francis awarded him the Benemeriti Medal for service to the Catholic Church.

Preceding him in death were his mother, Margaret Anne Bordas and his brothers Ricky and Joe.

Surviving are his wife Linda, his sons Jamie (Stacy) and Ben (Kim); his grandchildren Alexis, Jay, Luke, Matt, Nick, Vanessa, Carson, Sincere, and June; his father, Jim Sr.; brothers Mike (Cathy), John (Marsha), Mark (Sue) and Tom; his sisters Suellen (Rick) and Aimee; his sister-in-law Lori; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his Bordas and Bordas family. He leaves behind many cherished friends.

Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, at Altmeyer Funeral Home, Elm Grove Chapel, 154 Kruger Street, Wheeling, WV.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Wheeling with burial to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s Parish or St. Vincent de Paul School, both in Wheeling, WV.