Obituary of Elke P. Borgstadt

Dr. Elke Paula Borgstädt died with dignity in the arms of her loving niece Vanessa on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, NY. Elke was born in Heilbronn, Germany on April 11, 1957 to Karlheinz and Frida (Schwarzkopf) Borgstädt. Her love of travel began early with a solo trip across Europe to India, which she undertook on foot in her late teens. She moved to the United States in the early 1980s and studied medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University. Elke became a skilled anesthesiologist and practiced at Jacobi Medical Center in New York. She was known for her dedication to her work and her strong focus on patient care. Elke's generosity and kindness meant a great deal to her patients. It extended beyond family and friends, to include children around the world, who she supported with educational funding. After her diagnosis with breast cancer, Elke retired to Owego, NY. There, she and her loving husband Amin built their dream home and a beautiful hobby farm. At her home, Elke cared for an animal family that included, cats, dogs, chickens, ducks, goats, donkeys, miniature horses, alpacas and her beloved draft horses, Tennessee, Willy and Sterling. Elke is survived by her husband of 24 years, Khanzada (Amin) Khan; her 97-year-old mother, Frida Borgstädt; her sisters, Doris, Ursula and Ehli Borgstädt; her brother, Karl Borgstädt and many nieces and nephews including Alexander Attimonelli, Vanessa Bodrie, Johanna Borgstädt, Laura Borgstädt, Rebecca Borgstädt, Fedor Borgstädt, Tabea Borgstädt, Awais (Madhia) and Saad Khan. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to everyone who was involved in Elke's care and the care of her beloved animals in this last year of her life. A private memorial service will be held in her honor at a later date.