Robert Robinson Porter

Robert Robinson Porter 1922 - 2011 scholar, naturalist, and beloved uncle, died peacefully of natural causes on May 4, 2011. He spent the last 25 years of his life in Tucson, serving as an outstanding docent for the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists organization. A lifelong gourmand and talented cook, Bob was honored to have his very own section, "Bob Porter From Scratch" in the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists cookbook, Culinary Delights, the sales of which support environmental education programs at Sabino Canyon. Born in Cape May, NJ, Bob grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. The family often wintered in Tucson, and Bob and his brother, Willard, attended Cate School in Santa Barbara. Bob subsequently graduated from Princeton University where he later taught classics. During WWII he served as a US Army lieutenant in the Pacific theater. After the war, he spent several years studying as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England. Upon his return, he was employed for many years as Dean of Davenport College at Yale University. "Uncle Ro" is survived by nieces, Christine Porter, Jeannette (Podie) Porter and Anne VanOlphen of Tucson; great-nieces, Hannah Hall Gibson of Austin, TX, Abigail Armstrong Gibson, Carrie Anne VanOlphen and Alison Jean VanOlphen of Tucson and Rebecca Ryan Porter and great-nephew, James Ryan Porter of Albuquerque, NM. Ro will be keenly missed by all who knew him, but by none more than his friend of many years and companion at Sabino Canyon, his sister-in-law, Jean Porter. Memorial Services are pending. He will be laid to rest in the Porter family plot in Wilmington, Delaware. "Good night sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." Arrangements by DESERT SUNSET FUNERAL HOME.