The Rev. Lorene Heath Potter

NEW LONDON – The Rev. Lorene Heath Potter, 91, died peacefully at Woodcrest Village on May 25, 2023, her home since late 2021. She lived in Buffalo, N.Y. for the previous 60 years.

Lorene was born on March 22, 1932 in Norfolk, Va. to Wm. Rufus and Lorene (Davis) Heath. They moved to Oak Park, Ill. when she was in elementary school. In Chicago, Lorene appeared on the popular radio show “Quiz Kids,” where her expertise was in opera and literature. She graduated from Barnard College in 1953, majoring in Philosophy. She earned her Master’s in Anthropology at the University of Buffalo.

A model in New York and Chicago, Lorene was featured in Mademoiselle magazine in 1952. She ushered for the Metropolitan Opera in college, which allowed her to attend many performances, and had a lifelong love of theater. She particularly enjoyed theater trips to London.

She met her husband, M. Grosvenor Potter, Jr., during her senior year in college as he was finishing medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. They were married a week after her graduation.

Lorene was always up for a drive, whether it was an annual trip to Sanibel Island, a cross-country trip to California, or a scenic afternoon outing in the Woodcrest van. An accomplished artist, she was often looking for inspiration for her paintings.

She was actively involved in Buffalo’s cultural life, serving on the Buffalo Museum of Science Board and the Board of Visitors at The Park School of Buffalo. She was a life member of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and a long-time member of The Garret Club.

Lorene was passionate about research. She completed genealogies of her husband’s family and her own going back four centuries before the advent of Internet-aided searches. She used family records and visited historical societies, town halls, libraries and cemeteries to confirm dates of birth, death, and marriages.

She was called to the Episcopal ministry and was ordained in 1987. Lorene served in churches in Buffalo including St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church as pastor, which she revitalized with engaging programs for children and adults, and Trinity Episcopal Church. She did extensive research on the beautiful John LaFarge stained glass windows at Trinity and often incorporated a window into her sermon.

When Grove retired from private medical practice and began a second career as a ship’s doctor, she joined him on 78 cruises on small ships all over the world. She loved the travel and serving as chaplain on those voyages. Lorene painted many watercolors of the places they visited.

Lorene was predeceased by her husband of 50 years in 2003. She is survived by her four children, Abigail (Bruce) Hutchinson of New London, N.H., Grosvenor (Sara) Potter of Williamsville, N.Y., Rebecca (John) Glikbarg of San Carlos, Calif., and David Potter of Moss Landing, Calif., 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

The family extends their sincere thanks to Woodcrest Village, the Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for their kindness and care. Services will be private.