Varney Porter Truscott

Varney Louise (Porter) Truscott, age 96, died peacefully on October 28, 2025, at Waverly Heights in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.
Varney was born on May 28, 1929, in Pittsburgh, Pa. to Rudyard and Beatrice (Knox)
Porter. During her childhood, her family moved to Minneapolis and then to Evanston, Ill. After graduating from Evanston High School in 1947, Varney matriculated at Smith College, earning a BA in Government in 1951. Throughout her long life, she was a devoted Smith alumna, serving as Class Agent and Reunion Chair (many times). At her 60th Reunion, she was honored with an award for outstanding service to her class.
After graduation, Varney moved to Washington, DC where she worked first for the National Security Agency and then the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where she met a young intern by the name of Bill Clinton. In 1969, she married John Lovering (Lud) Truscott. In 1970, they moved to Philadelphia, eventually settling in a historic house in Gladwyne, their home for more than 40 years. Varney's on-going devotion to politics and higher education was reflected in her graduate studies, earning an MA in Government from Bryn Mawr College, and in her professional life, working for nearly 2 decades as the Executive Assistant to two Presidents of Bryn Mawr.
Varney loved to travel. She visited over 50 countries and nearly all 50 states during her working career and in retirement and filled many scrapbooks with her memories. She also had a close circle of friends, many from Smith, but Varney had a knack for making connections and cultivating genuine relationships at all stages of her life.
Varney was an active member of the Philadelphia Committee on Foreign
Relations, the Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia, and the Merion Cricket Club. She and Lud enjoyed playing tennis throughout their lives and golf in their retirement. Varney also loved the Philadelphia Orchestra and read The New York Times every day.
After Lud passed away in 2014, Varney remained at Waverly Heights and was active into her 90s. She was a wonderful stepmother to Gay (Washington, DC) and Barton (Tacoma, WA) and a devoted aunt to her four nieces and nephews: Chris (Winnetka, IL), Leslie (Antigo, WI), Lisa (Crossville, TN), and Rudyard (Mantua, NJ). Varney is also survived by 4 grandchildren-Dillon, Sara, Nina, and Emily-and one great grandchild-Cyrus. She also leaves behind 13 grandnieces and nephews and their children. Varney was predeceased by her beloved brother, Rudyard Knox Porter.
A memorial service will be held at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 11 am to celebrate Varney's life. A reception will follow at the Merion Cricket Club.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Varney's honor to Smith College either online at www.smith.edu/give or by check (mailed to 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA. 01063).
Donations can also be made in memory of Varney Porter Truscott to the Greater Pennsylvania chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.