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March 14, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, March 18, 2013 from 7-9 PM and Tuesday March 19, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM from the funeral home, then to the Bishop Rodimer Hall adjacent to St. John’s the Baptist Cathedral in Paterson where at 10 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Memorial Park Cemetery in Totowa.
Walter W. Porter Jr., age 94 of Paterson, died peacefully on Thursday, March 14, 2013.
He was born October 18, 1918 to his loving parents Walter W. Porter Sr. and Jane Murphy Porter in Paterson and had lived in Paterson all of his life.
He received his formal education at Paterson Grammar School No. Five and then went to Central High School where he was a talented football and basketball player on a Champion Team. He was also a member of the Central High record-breaking swim team with Al Vanderweigh, a 1936 Olympic Team Member. During his high school years, his family move several blocks which caused Walt to finish at Paterson’s Eastside High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1939. Playing football first for Central High and then for their arch-rival Eastside High caused quite a stir, some good spirited rivalry, and a little confusion for his many friends. Walt was also a member of the Championship Baseball team with fellow players Lou Cuccinello and Rube Wiggins. He was inducted into the Eastside High School Hall of Fame for his stellar athletisism.
He met Mildred Beggs a high school classmate who was also a cheerleader for Walter’s football team and they soon became sweethearts. They were married after a two year courtship on September 20, 1941 by Reverend Elwell at the Broadway Baptist Church in Paterson and almost immediately thereafter they went to Saint Joseph’s RC Church on Market Street in Paterson and were married in a Roman Catholic wedding, all on the same day! Walter and Mildred had a “wonderful marriage” together for seventy years until her passing in 2010. Mildred was the love of his life having raised two wonderful boys Russell and Douglas. Walter always said that his in-laws Chester and Lillian Beggs “where the best people in the whole world” and Mildred would say the same for Walt’s parents; Walter Sr. and Jane Porter.
Walter was a parishioner of Saint Paul’s RC Church in Prospect Park.
Walter served during World War II in the U.S. Army, Company A 414th Infantry 104th Division. He served in the battles of Rhineland, Central Europe, and the Battle of The Bulge in the Ardennes. He was wounded in action, receiving a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and a Combat Infantry Badge, as well as the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. He told a story of one of his war experiences; he was assigned to a special Browning Automatic weapon after the previous soldiers who had been manning the gun were wounded by an enemy sniper. While he was using the weapon, a sniper shot him in the head and, because his right foot stumbled into a depression in the ground, lowering his head momentarily, the sniper’s bullet pierced his helmet but only managed to graze his skull, rendering him unconscious. After being transported to a tent hospital for the wounded, he was greatly surprised by a visit from his brother Gerard, a moment he has cherished ever since. Gerard had heard of his brother’s plight and travelled many difficult miles to visit his wounded brother in that hospital. Walt and Gerry have enjoyed a close relationship together their whole lives and Gerry is well known in Wayne where he was a councilman for twenty years.
After the War, Walt was employed by the Paterson Police Department as a motorcycle patrolman from 1945 to 1953 and was President of the Police Benevolent Association Local #1. He then worked at the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office and the Passaic County Prosecutors Office from 1960-1979, as Captain of Passaic County Detectives, finally retiring in 1979. He had a long and highly respected career.
Before and also after retirement he served his community in many political and community service rolls. Walt had a special political drive that was truly “a service above self personality”. Perhaps you could refer to his demeanor as havng an idealistic approach, but whatever adjective you use to describe his personal style perhaps the best is “selfless”, always doing for others. Couple that attribute with honesty beyond reproach, determination to do the best job he could, and you describe Walter Porter. He had the utmost respect of people from all walks of life.
He was a member and Past Commander of the Bernard Armitage Post #360 of the American Legion in Paterson, a life member and Past Commander of the American Legion, Past County Commander of the American Legion, Past New Jersey State Vice Commander of the American Legion, and member of the Legion’s Executive Committee, and the Riverside Veterans Post. He was a Life Member of the “Military Order of the Purple Heart”, Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #139 in Paterson, a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans Argonne Chapter, Paterson, and a member of the Riverside Veterans of Hawthorne.
Over a period of thirty years, Walter personally presented on behalf of the Passaic County American Legion, more thirty thousand American Flags, welcoming new citizens naturalized into the citizenship of our wonderful country.
He served as President of the Passaic County Employees Pension Fund, Past President of the Passaic County Employees Credit Union, a twenty-five year member of the Civil Service Association. Was a County Committeeman in Paterson’s 4th Ward for twenty years, was a Republican Candidate for Congress in 1962, served many fund raising rolls and campaign manager for several individuals wanting to be mayors, county clerks and freeholders, seeking election. He was an honorary member of the Passaic County Chiefs of Police Association, a member of the Clifton Moose Lodge 654 and the Passaic County 200 Club.
Walter enjoyed politics and he was elected Passaic County Freeholder in 1980, followed by reelection in 1983, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1999. He served as Director of the Passaic County Freeholder Board in 1982, 1983 and 1986. He was elected delegate to the Republican National Convention 1984, 1988 and 1992. He was elected President of the New Jersey Association of Counties in 1989, representing all constitutional officers, freeholders, county clerks, surrogates and sheriffs.
He was the first chairman of the Paterson Municipal Energy Conservation Commission in 1980, a Life Member of the Elmwood Park/ Paterson Elks Lodge #60 where he served as Chairman of Americanism Committee in 1979. Was a member of the Passaic County Blood Drive a former member of the Board of Directors of Passaic Valley United Way. An Associated member of the Newspaper Publisher’s Pica Club
He is the holder of a Silver Life Membership from PBA Local #197 presented to him via the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department. He was an Honorary Member of the Passaic County Police Chief’s Association and a member of the Passaic County 200 Club. He was a house member of the Upper Montclair Country Club.
Walter was a founder of the Paterson Boys and Girls Club along with the late Gordon Canfield who also was a very well respected Congressman at that time. Participating with the founding also was Frank Cundari, Sam Sheber and members of the Paterson Jayces also known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Paterson.
He served as President and Chairman of the Board of the Boys and Girls Club and was instrumental in raising over three hundred thousand dollars at annual fund raising dinners. The Club honored him by designating him Director Emeritus.
He was appointed by Congressman William Pascrell to the United States Military Academy’s “Selection Committee” for candidates to the U.S. Military Academies; Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force.
Walter’s greatest achievement, the one he cherished most, was being the husband to his beloved Mildred. He loved her dearly, and the family they were blessed with including their two sons, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Walter believed in good planning and he made his own funeral arrangements. As part of his plan, he wanted to leave his sons and daughter in laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren a sincere, heart-felt final message; “I loved you with all of my heart and soul and wish you a wonderful lifetime with your health and family.”
Surviving to cherish his memory are two sons Russell Porter and his wife Ginger of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and Douglas Porter and his wife Robin of Panther Valley, Allamuchy, NJ; four grandchildren Matthew Porter of Fairfax, Virginia, Darren Porter of Springfield, Virginia, Sharon O’Meara and her husband Patrick of Liberty, NJ and Jennifer Schleer and her husband John of Roxbury; four great-grandchildren Grace and Colin Porter-O’Mera of Liberty, McKenna Rose Porter of Springfield, Virginia and Hope Porter-Schleer of Roxbury. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Millie in 2010.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Walter’s memory are asked to consider The Boys and Girls Club of Paterson, 264 21st Avenue, Paterson, NJ 07510 or The Straight and Narrow Program 396 Straight Street, Paterson and the Passaic Valley Hospice , 783 Riverview Drive, Totowa, NJ 07511.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, March 18, 2013 from 7-9 PM and Tuesday March 19, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM from the funeral home, then to the Bishop Rodimer Hall adjacent to St. John’s the Baptist Cathedral in Paterson where at 10 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Memorial Park Cemetery in Totowa.
March 14, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, March 18, 2013 from 7-9 PM and Tuesday March 19, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM from the funeral home, then to the Bishop Rodimer Hall adjacent to St. John’s the Baptist Cathedral in Paterson where at 10 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Memorial Park Cemetery in Totowa.
Walter W. Porter Jr., age 94 of Paterson, died peacefully on Thursday, March 14, 2013.
He was born October 18, 1918 to his loving parents Walter W. Porter Sr. and Jane Murphy Porter in Paterson and had lived in Paterson all of his life.
He received his formal education at Paterson Grammar School No. Five and then went to Central High School where he was a talented football and basketball player on a Champion Team. He was also a member of the Central High record-breaking swim team with Al Vanderweigh, a 1936 Olympic Team Member. During his high school years, his family move several blocks which caused Walt to finish at Paterson’s Eastside High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1939. Playing football first for Central High and then for their arch-rival Eastside High caused quite a stir, some good spirited rivalry, and a little confusion for his many friends. Walt was also a member of the Championship Baseball team with fellow players Lou Cuccinello and Rube Wiggins. He was inducted into the Eastside High School Hall of Fame for his stellar athletisism.
He met Mildred Beggs a high school classmate who was also a cheerleader for Walter’s football team and they soon became sweethearts. They were married after a two year courtship on September 20, 1941 by Reverend Elwell at the Broadway Baptist Church in Paterson and almost immediately thereafter they went to Saint Joseph’s RC Church on Market Street in Paterson and were married in a Roman Catholic wedding, all on the same day! Walter and Mildred had a “wonderful marriage” together for seventy years until her passing in 2010. Mildred was the love of his life having raised two wonderful boys Russell and Douglas. Walter always said that his in-laws Chester and Lillian Beggs “where the best people in the whole world” and Mildred would say the same for Walt’s parents; Walter Sr. and Jane Porter.
Walter was a parishioner of Saint Paul’s RC Church in Prospect Park.
Walter served during World War II in the U.S. Army, Company A 414th Infantry 104th Division. He served in the battles of Rhineland, Central Europe, and the Battle of The Bulge in the Ardennes. He was wounded in action, receiving a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and a Combat Infantry Badge, as well as the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. He told a story of one of his war experiences; he was assigned to a special Browning Automatic weapon after the previous soldiers who had been manning the gun were wounded by an enemy sniper. While he was using the weapon, a sniper shot him in the head and, because his right foot stumbled into a depression in the ground, lowering his head momentarily, the sniper’s bullet pierced his helmet but only managed to graze his skull, rendering him unconscious. After being transported to a tent hospital for the wounded, he was greatly surprised by a visit from his brother Gerard, a moment he has cherished ever since. Gerard had heard of his brother’s plight and travelled many difficult miles to visit his wounded brother in that hospital. Walt and Gerry have enjoyed a close relationship together their whole lives and Gerry is well known in Wayne where he was a councilman for twenty years.
After the War, Walt was employed by the Paterson Police Department as a motorcycle patrolman from 1945 to 1953 and was President of the Police Benevolent Association Local #1. He then worked at the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office and the Passaic County Prosecutors Office from 1960-1979, as Captain of Passaic County Detectives, finally retiring in 1979. He had a long and highly respected career.
Before and also after retirement he served his community in many political and community service rolls. Walt had a special political drive that was truly “a service above self personality”. Perhaps you could refer to his demeanor as havng an idealistic approach, but whatever adjective you use to describe his personal style perhaps the best is “selfless”, always doing for others. Couple that attribute with honesty beyond reproach, determination to do the best job he could, and you describe Walter Porter. He had the utmost respect of people from all walks of life.
He was a member and Past Commander of the Bernard Armitage Post #360 of the American Legion in Paterson, a life member and Past Commander of the American Legion, Past County Commander of the American Legion, Past New Jersey State Vice Commander of the American Legion, and member of the Legion’s Executive Committee, and the Riverside Veterans Post. He was a Life Member of the “Military Order of the Purple Heart”, Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #139 in Paterson, a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans Argonne Chapter, Paterson, and a member of the Riverside Veterans of Hawthorne.
Over a period of thirty years, Walter personally presented on behalf of the Passaic County American Legion, more thirty thousand American Flags, welcoming new citizens naturalized into the citizenship of our wonderful country.
He served as President of the Passaic County Employees Pension Fund, Past President of the Passaic County Employees Credit Union, a twenty-five year member of the Civil Service Association. Was a County Committeeman in Paterson’s 4th Ward for twenty years, was a Republican Candidate for Congress in 1962, served many fund raising rolls and campaign manager for several individuals wanting to be mayors, county clerks and freeholders, seeking election. He was an honorary member of the Passaic County Chiefs of Police Association, a member of the Clifton Moose Lodge 654 and the Passaic County 200 Club.
Walter enjoyed politics and he was elected Passaic County Freeholder in 1980, followed by reelection in 1983, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1999. He served as Director of the Passaic County Freeholder Board in 1982, 1983 and 1986. He was elected delegate to the Republican National Convention 1984, 1988 and 1992. He was elected President of the New Jersey Association of Counties in 1989, representing all constitutional officers, freeholders, county clerks, surrogates and sheriffs.
He was the first chairman of the Paterson Municipal Energy Conservation Commission in 1980, a Life Member of the Elmwood Park/ Paterson Elks Lodge #60 where he served as Chairman of Americanism Committee in 1979. Was a member of the Passaic County Blood Drive a former member of the Board of Directors of Passaic Valley United Way. An Associated member of the Newspaper Publisher’s Pica Club
He is the holder of a Silver Life Membership from PBA Local #197 presented to him via the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department. He was an Honorary Member of the Passaic County Police Chief’s Association and a member of the Passaic County 200 Club. He was a house member of the Upper Montclair Country Club.
Walter was a founder of the Paterson Boys and Girls Club along with the late Gordon Canfield who also was a very well respected Congressman at that time. Participating with the founding also was Frank Cundari, Sam Sheber and members of the Paterson Jayces also known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Paterson.
He served as President and Chairman of the Board of the Boys and Girls Club and was instrumental in raising over three hundred thousand dollars at annual fund raising dinners. The Club honored him by designating him Director Emeritus.
He was appointed by Congressman William Pascrell to the United States Military Academy’s “Selection Committee” for candidates to the U.S. Military Academies; Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force.
Walter’s greatest achievement, the one he cherished most, was being the husband to his beloved Mildred. He loved her dearly, and the family they were blessed with including their two sons, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Walter believed in good planning and he made his own funeral arrangements. As part of his plan, he wanted to leave his sons and daughter in laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren a sincere, heart-felt final message; “I loved you with all of my heart and soul and wish you a wonderful lifetime with your health and family.”
Surviving to cherish his memory are two sons Russell Porter and his wife Ginger of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and Douglas Porter and his wife Robin of Panther Valley, Allamuchy, NJ; four grandchildren Matthew Porter of Fairfax, Virginia, Darren Porter of Springfield, Virginia, Sharon O’Meara and her husband Patrick of Liberty, NJ and Jennifer Schleer and her husband John of Roxbury; four great-grandchildren Grace and Colin Porter-O’Mera of Liberty, McKenna Rose Porter of Springfield, Virginia and Hope Porter-Schleer of Roxbury. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Millie in 2010.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Walter’s memory are asked to consider The Boys and Girls Club of Paterson, 264 21st Avenue, Paterson, NJ 07510 or The Straight and Narrow Program 396 Straight Street, Paterson and the Passaic Valley Hospice , 783 Riverview Drive, Totowa, NJ 07511.
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