WORCESTER: John A. LaPorte, 55, of 1 Dean St., died Saturday, October 10, 2009, at St. Vincent Hospital, after a long struggle with heart disease.
He leaves his very special daughter, Meghan K. LaPorte of Holden; his older brother, Carleton H. “Jay” LaPorte, Jr.; 4 nephews, Carleton H. “Jay” LaPorte III, William H. E. LaPorte, II, and Justin Ashe LaPorte all of Worcester, Scott D. Bonneau of Austin, TX; a niece, Amy Morganson of Manchester, CT; and his cousin, Rev. George L. O’Brien of South Yarmouth. He also leaves a long time devoted friend, Marcia LeBlanc of Millbury. His sister, Mary Ann Bonneau, an administrator and teacher in the Worcester Public Schools for more than 30 years, his sister-in-law, Kathleen A. LaPorte, and his aunt, Regina V. McNamara, all predeceased him.
He was born and raised in Worcester, the youngest son of the late Carleton H. LaPorte, Sr., a nationally renowned portrait photographer, and the late Irene M. (McNamara) LaPorte, a well known Worcester artist. He was a graduate of the former Sacred Heart Academy and St. Peter’s High School. He went on to earn his diploma from the Rhode Island School of Photography.
John began his career at Carleton H. LaPorte Studios in Worcester, founded in 1946 by his father, and his grandfather, William H. E. LaPorte. Later, he became a freelance and nature photographer working throughout New England. He had a distinguished career winning many ribbons and Master’s merits awarded by the Professional Photographers Association of America. He was a member of both the Professional Photographers Associations of New England and America.
CALLING HOURS are 5 to 8 p.m. SUNDAY, Oct. 11, in KELLY FUNERAL HOME, 154 Lincoln St. A FUNERAL MASS will be held at 11 a.m. MONDAY, Oct. 12, in IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, 353 Grove Street. John’s cousin, Rev. George L. O’Brien, will be the principal celebrant. Burial will follow in Howard Street Cemetery, Northborough, MA. The family suggests donations in memory of John be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.
Messages of condolence or thoughts and memories of John may be sent to the family on-line at www.kellyfuneralhome.com