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Allen Daniel Porter

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Allen Porter Obituary

Allen Daniel Porter passed quietly away at Stanford Medical Center on October 30, 2010 after a long illness, with friends and family close at hand. Dan was born on October 2, 1946 in Whittier, CA to Ralph and Virginia Porter. He grew up with his brother Dexter, sister Terry and a close knit clan of cousins, aunts and uncles. After graduating from Whittier High School, Dan headed north to attend newly opened UCSC in 1966, living in a trailer on the East Field, since the dorms for Stevenson College were not yet complete.

As a freshman Dan was a founding member of the first UCSC Rugby team, drumming up additional players by posting flyers in the new dorms. Dan played as a forward, transitioning from player to coach. Dan would go on to be an innovative leader in American Rugby coaching circles. Beginning with coaching at UCSC, Dan expanded his skills in Australia and New Zealand in the early 1980s, coming back to coaching UCSC in 1984. Dan developed a partnership with Cal Rugby coach Jack Clark. Together they formed the first Collegiate All American Rugby side in 1987 with Jack as Head Coach and Dan as Assistant Coach. In 1993, Jack became Head Coach for the Eagles, the USA National Rugby Team with Dan as Assistant Coach, focusing on backline play and technical analysis until 1997. Concurrently, Dan and Jack coached Cal Rugby to 7 national championships. Dan left California in 1998 to lead the Rugby program at Harvard University and then shifted to Ohio State University in 1999. He coached OSU in Columbus until 2004, taking the Buckeyes to consecutive territorial championships. Dan moved to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, using his construction skills to help rebuild homes and coaching the New Orleans Rugby Club. He returned to OSU to coach the women's Rugby program in 2008. In 2009 Dan assisted at San Jose State in 2009. Throughout, Dan wrote for American Rugby journals and USA Rugby coaching manuals.

When not absorbed in Rugby, Dan was a talented builder, versed in all aspects of construction. He was also an avid player of miniature war games, spending hours painting whole armies of tiny metal Napoleonic soldiers and staging battles over mini-fields of his own devising.

Dan touched the lives of many people, including the hundreds of young men and women whom he coached, his friends and his family. He will be remembered for his quick laugh, his inexhaustible store of rugby lore, his intelligence, his generous nature, his creativity, and his fierce independence.

Dan's legacy will be his keen analysis of attack and defense strategies, which has factored greatly in the development of American Rugby. His memory will be well served by the Coach Dan Porter Rugby Endowment Fund being established by his family at OSU to benefit the men's and women's Rugby programs. Contributions can be made to Ohio State University, designating the "Coach Dan Porter Rugby Endowment Fund #482075" and sent to OSU-Gift Processing, 1480 W. Lane Ave, Columbus, OH 43221 or made online at www.giveto.osu.edu. Click "give now" and use gift #482075.

A memorial service will be held on December 12, 2010, 2:00-4:00pm at the Fireside Lounge, Stevenson College, UCSC and January 16, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Nov. 21, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Allen Porter

15 Entries

Jose Hernandez

December 14, 2010

Dan was all about the game! He taught me that the thrill was in the playing, and if you happened to win, so much the better! I never enjoyed playing a sport more than I did under the coaching of Dan Porter! He helped mold me into a better person; I'll always cherish our time together! To this day of I need an extra mental lift, I recall Dan's call to action so as to move me: "BE THERE, FORWARDS!" RIP DP.

Mark Levonian

December 10, 2010

About two weeks ago I was thinking about people in my life I had enjoyed the most over the years but had lost touch with in recent years. Dan was near the top of the list, and I thought to myself "I need to track him down and get back in touch." It breaks my heart that I missed that chance, that I'll never again in this life get to swap rugby stories, share a drink, or laugh with Dan. (Or fight a pitched battle with Napoleonic miniatures, or sing a song...) A huge lesson there -- don't wait.

Like some others who posted here, I'd have to say Dan changed my life, because in a sense rugby shaped everything that followed, in ways that are hard to articulate. Dan was the main reason I played rugby at UCSC, and he encouraged me as I went on to play in other places (Cal, Boston, New York, Australia) for other teams, and he shaped my thinking as I moved into coaching. He was an example of what a coach can be -- enthusiastic, encouraging, thinking. All of which also made him a good friend.

Dan leaves behind a lot of fond memories, and the ones I have I will carry with me and treasure. Goodbye Dan.

Nate Scoble

December 9, 2010

The closest I ever got to the Slug rugby pitch was the keg, but in the course of being invited to join in many postgame libations — for the Slugs were anything but athletic elitists — I learned what a generous and loyal friend Dan was. My housemates and I threw a double-kegger in the Seabright area in 1978, and found that an overzealous friend had spread the word at the Soquel skateboard center and a hundred-odd uninvited guests had crashed the festivities. We couldn't get near our own kegs. Fortunately we had invited Dan and the Slugs. When I asked those who were not sons and daughters of the house, or their friends, to please leave, Dan saw to it that we had an orderly transition instead of a pitched battle. Here's to Dan — I'm very sorry he's gone.

Tim Wills

December 7, 2010

Dan and UCSC Rugby changed the direction of my life. I was a local kid who had played gridiron at Aptos High School and was attending Cabrillo College with Dean landry. I loved the comaraderie and respect for my opponents to be very gratifying. Due to Dan and rugby I have now been involved with rugby for 34 years, I have played in CA, NV, AK, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain. I am currently a referee coach in NSW and will dedicate this season Dan, he always encouraged me to coach rugby and referee and i now take great joy in passing that on to a younger generation.
Dan is now playing in Heaven and I'm sure he has returned to his origin in the front row.
Tim Wills, Newcastle NSW Australia

Becky Teaford Boonman

December 5, 2010

I remember Dan Porter fondly and am so sad to learn of his passing. He was just starting up the UCSC Womens Rugby Team when you (Tracy Brann Schilling) two recruited me. I was running at the Field House track. I knew nothing about rugby or sports but fell in love with the game because Dan and Roland were such great coaches. Rugby gave me needed confidence during a period when I was recovering from a violent assault. That confidence helped me try to other new sports, including triathlons, which I continue to participate in regularly. I thank Dan Porter and Rugby for my athletic training!
Sorry I can't make it out for his memorial service--I live in Chicago. I love to come out to SC and UCSC--reminds me of Dan Porter & his Banana Slugs. What a wonderful time in our lives...so glad to have known Dan and all you other fellow ruggers.
Please stay in touch and send my love to the Slugs..
Always,
Becky Teaford Boonman

Bob Tanaka

December 1, 2010

Dan taught us the Maori haka, which we performed before every match. Our opponents thought we were whacked out (which we were). He also knew so many rugby songs. His love of the game was amazing, and inspired us to also give it our best on the pitch. Ruck on Dan...

O'B

December 1, 2010

I'm speechless and sad. Dan made that UCSC club and team into a thing of magic. The rugby, the camaraderie, the singing, the life. His passion for the game gave great joy to many.

alan deyoung

November 29, 2010

What to say? I had been hoping to run across Dan again in his many travels around the country to hear of his exploits and accomplishments. Did not know he was only up at OU - with me down in KY. Animal Farm brother and Lazoobie competitor, never knew Dan as other than a cheerful prankster. I am hoping to hear more about him on these pages to flesh out my lost knowledge of his work and projects since we last played rugby together; could that have been 1970 or '71? Dan; I miss you greatly and hope when the great ruck in the sky is formed, we'll heel it back together.

Al "PQ" DeYoung

Matt Scoble

November 29, 2010

I came to UCSC in the fall of 1976. My brother and others I knew on the team urged me to play and I finally jumped in. It was a pleasure to meet Dan as one of the founders, and "old timers" even then, on the team. Danny always had a glint in his eye and a good-natured greeting on his lips. He knew the game, knew all the lyrics to every song and was always encouraging to new, young, inexperienced players like myself. I always enjoyed Dan's company and felt honored to be around him. When Smitty and Coots, the two Kiwi's were playing with us, Dan somehow convinced Smitty to take part in his miniature war games. He told me that, in order to keep up the morale of his troops, Smitty insisted that he needed to have a naked woman and a leg of lamb at the back so that his troops' spirits would never falter... Danny always had a good tale to tell and a smile on his face as he told it. To me he remains a representative of a golden time at Santa Cruz and I'm sorry to have lost him.

chris crider

November 28, 2010

Here is to my condolences to Robin & her family. Thankyou for all the great memories & songs he brought to my life. The Rugby Gods are taking good care of him

UCSC Rugy Team photo after the mud bowl....

Matt Scoble

November 26, 2010

Jeff Grant

November 24, 2010

Having known Dan as a college room-mate and the god-father of my son, I have more than a few good stories to tell of " Piggy". One of my favorites was of the night he coerced Dr.Herr Weber to recite the first full rendition, on the West Coast, of "Eskimo Nell" at a little beer and peanut joint on Mission Street. History was made that night as all in attendance fell to the peanut strewn floor in mirth and merryment. Another tale relates of the night a young UCSC soccer player made the mistake of trying to swipe the rugby club's keg from our training room closet, which we had hidden from OPER officials. As practice ended and shower room frivolities finished up, we all retired to our "training" room for the evening chalk talk presented by Dan. We discoverd the closet open and keg MIA. Search parties were sent out and soon returned with the keg which was discovered being slowly rolled uphill to a Cowell College dorm to be consumed by the erstwhile soccer player. After a thorough pummelling of the lad, we rugby players then heard Dan expound on always having "support" before making a pass. We also viewed, for the fifteenth time that season, the 1974 match of the centuy between the All-Black and the Barbarians. Administaion officials never did find out about our keg.
I raise a toast to Dan's memory.

Jeff Grant UCSC Rugby 1969-1980

Mark Hazarabedian

November 23, 2010

Dan was a good guy and a talented coach. He'll be missed.

Condolences to family and friends.

Mark Haz, Cal Varsity Rugby '80 - '83, Old Blues RFC '84 - '99.

Greg Rutter

November 22, 2010

I went to UCSC in 1975 and, having played a little rugby in high school, had interest in playing. Dan was more than happy to have any new recruit, and he immediately placed me, at 6'1" and 175 lbs, at prop-forward, where the team needed a man most [for the non-rugby oriented, prop is best played by someone 5'8" and about 300 lbs]. A week or so later at the Stanford 10's, Dan gave me much helpful encouragement, even explaining to me a few rules after I was penalized...
My favorite play ever was at the Santa Barbara tournament, where, with many spectators and hopelessly behind, Dan called "The Hidden Ball Play", confusing the defenders and nearly scoring.
Everyone will miss Dan's clever spirit.

Paul Zenner

November 21, 2010

In 1972, while watching my two older brothers as UCSC played Stanford in the mud that was often our battle ground, injuries left the 15 side Banna Slugs short a player. Dan yelled "Baby Zenner, suit up." I was 17 at the time, in high school, and delighted the field as I changed into an ambulance bound player's uniform on the side lines. It was an honor to have played with Dan in those early days of American Rugby as he coached me both on and off the field for the next six years. Mud, blood, beer, and songs invoke many fond memories of the honor Dan brought to the "ruffian's game played by gentlemen." My condolences to Robin, the family, and all the players whose lives were touched by Dan. I'll lift a pint and sing you a chorus tonight.

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