Gerald Donald Porter, Sr., “Popsy”, died in his home Friday, October 19, 2018, after an extended illness. He was 90 years old. Jerry is survived by the love of this life, his wife of 65 years, Ann Porter, “Mopsy”, of Worcester. They met in Hiltons, VA, in Spring of 1953, and were married on September 17 of that same year.
In addition to his wife, Ann, of Worcester, Jerry leaves his children, Roxanne Kiritsy and her husband, Patrick, of North Brookfield, Robin Carlo and her husband, Kenneth, of Gloucester, Gerald Porter, Jr., of Green Sea, South Carolina, Donna Williams and her husband, Robert, of Holden, Larry Pierce of Charlton, and Alan Pierce of Clinton. He is predeceased by his siblings, Charles, Jay, Bessie, and Barbara, and his daughter-in-law, Stacy Lewis-Porter. He was grateful to be called “Popsy” by nineteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
Gerald was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, on July 10, 1928, to Charles and Stella Porter. His family settled in Massachusetts in the wake of the throes of the Great Depression. With the permission of his father, Jerry left high school in 1946 to enlist in the Army Air Corps, which later became the United States Air Force, being promoted the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1946. After serving his country, Jerry earned his Bachelor of Science degree in General Education from Clark University in 1962 and his Master of Education degree from Worcester State in 1966. He continued his formal educational pursuits at Worcester Polytechnic Institute earning his Master of Natural Science in 1968, but his informal studies continued throughout his lifetime, and he rarely was seen without a book, studying languages, sciences, mathematics and music until his last days.
During his college years, Jerry served as a research technician at the Worcester Foundation of Experimental Biology. He began his teaching career at Barre High School, and finished his career as Science Department Head at Westborough High School, retiring after 25 years of service in 1988. He continued to work as a tutor in the math and sciences.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, October 22nd at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Funeral service honoring and celebrating Gerald’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 23rd at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Universal Promise (http://www.universalpromise.org/give/), an educational organization that serves South African children.