1 March, 2016
Ralph Charles Porter, 85, of Hopkinton,MA., passed away Sunday, February 28, 2016 after a 10 year battle with multiple system atrophy. Born in Hyde Park, MA., he was the son of Mildred (Boyd) and Charles E. Porter. Ralph was an Air Force Veteran.
He and his wife Barbara (Bowman) Porter of Hopkinton recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on February 14th. Besides his wife, Barbara and their daughter Larabeth P. Goett, he is survived by his former wife, Patricia R. Porter and their four children, Charles E. Porter, David B. Porter, P. Jeffrey Porter, and Gail L. Stankiewicz. He leaves behind 8 grandchildren and his sister Alma Schora. He is predeceased by his siblings, Reigh Porter and Jean Regan.
His entire professional career centered around cooperative education at Northeastern University where he instituted the MBA co-op program and went on to promote cooperative education nationwide as the President of the National Commission for Cooperative Education.
His passion in life was running, leading him to completing with qualifying times for 20 Boston Marathons, and then meeting the challenge of running Mt. Washington twice.
Private burial will take place in Bourne National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the BAA, Northeastern University, or Pilgrim Congregational Church, Southborough, Ma. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com
