George P.D. Porter (1936-2021)
George Porter of Wellesley passed away unexpectedly on December 4, 2021 at the age of 85 while attending an ice hockey game in Providence, R.I. He was born in Boston on March 7, 1936, the son of the late Cedric and Emma (Atchison) Porter. He grew up in Wellesley and graduated from Tabor Academy in 1954. George attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He worked for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority for 40 years, retiring in 2001. Additionally George served as a professional “bayonet fighter” for the US Army Reserves. He was very active in politics, both locally and nationally. He was a proud member of the Republican Party and worked within Wellesley politics for decades, including serving as chairman of the Wellesley Board of Elections. If you needed to see George, he could be found at the Maugus Restaurant for breakfast in Wellesley almost every day.
George’s passions included spectator sports of all kinds, politics, sleeping, eating, and drinking good bourbon. He and his late partner of 32 years, Patrice Gosselin, traveled to college sporting events all over the country. George once saved enough quarters to take Pat to the Rose Bowl in California. He was an enthusiastic Vanderbilt football season ticket holder for over 40 years. Countless times George would organize trips to Nashville to allow friends and family from up north to mingle with his southern friends, including Big Ben and Anita Kay. Whether it was Nashville or anywhere else in the country, George could tell you where the best restaurants and noteworthy tourist attractions were.
Every winter George and his good friends Ihsan and Carmen Haddad would head towards Arizona. George was a lifetime ticket holder for the Fiesta Bowl, one of the most prestigious college football bowls. George was also an ice hockey enthusiast and was a Harvard Hockey ticket holder for many years. He never missed a Beanpot tournament. Three years ago he touted that he had seen every Division 1 hockey team in the country that year. After hockey season he would organize a yearly trip to the NCAA Frozen Four Hockey Tournament in April with his brother Cedric, nephews and friends. George was always on the go. He had been to 47 states and was looking forward to visiting the last three - Idaho, Utah, and Hawaii. He had already planned a trip to Hawaii next year for a Vandy football game.
George was predeceased by “the love of his life” Patrice Gosselin and his nephew Tom Sieminski and too many friends to list. He is survived by his brother Dr. Cedric Porter, Jr. and his wife Donna of Asheville, NC. He is also survived by his nephews - John, Ric, Rob,Rodney, and Joshua - and his niece Sarah. George is also survived by countless friends including two of his oldest and best friends, David Chapin and Ihsan Haddad.
Uncle George was one of a kind. He had a zest for life, getting the most out of every day. Whether a sporting event or meeting someone for lunch or just going to a nephew’s house for dinner, he was always upbeat and had a boisterous laugh. George was always checking in with family and friends, to organize the next sporting event. When asked how he was doing he would always reply “George is good. George is on his best behavior”. George was better than good. He was “ great” and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. A celebration of his life has been postponed until next spring.