Michael Elliott Porter died on January 9, 2025 in O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, California due to complications from a stroke. He was 73.
Michael Porter was born in San Jose on October 8, 1951. Mike grew up with his family of six in the hills above Saratoga and Los Gatos. In the late 1940s, his parents, Rhoda and Bernie Porter built an adobe house in an idyllic setting overlooking Hume Canyon and the entire Santa Clara Valley. The home and its environs sheltered the closely-knit Porter family growing up there. They had the freedom to wander the natural setting of the Santa Cruz Mountains, especially Hume Canyon with its lovely SanTomas Aquino Creek.
LG adobe House and patio overlooking Santa Clara Valley, 1950s
Karen, Mike, Susie, Kent (probably Christmas day, 1955)
Karen, Mike, Kent, and Susie in front of living room fireplace, Christmas morning 1957 or 1958.
Kent and Mike in patio at LG house (playing in their own cardboard box house!) About 1956 or 1957.
Mike and Kent cuddling with their Mom Rhoda.
Mike first attended Fruitvale Elementary, then Saratoga Grammar School, and then the relatively new Saratoga High School from which he graduated with the class of 1969. At the high school, Mike excelled as a talented three-sport athlete (basketball, track, and football). He was the starting center on both the Frosh-Soph and Varsity Basketball teams. During his senior year, Mike was a starting free safety and wide receiver for the Saratoga High School football team. After high school, Mike played on the basketball team for West Valley College from where he received his AA degree. Throughout his youth, Mike’s family also marveled at what a graceful and skilled snow skier he became.
Mike (#31) driving for the basket, 1968 during his senior year at SHS
A photo of Mike (#81) catching a pass for a touchdown was featured as a full page background in the 1969 Saratoga High School yearbook.
Skiing with family friends—left to right: Louise Cooper, Barbara Cooper, Rhoda Porter, George Cooper, Mike Porter
Mike's high school graduation photo
Unfortunately, on the doorstep of his adult life while studying for his BA at Sonoma State, Mike was stricken with the still-incurable mental illness of schizophrenia. He lived for almost fifty years in board and care homes in San Jose under the auspices of the Santa Clara County Mental Health Department. During all of those years, his loving family remained loyal to him and Mike was able to spend quite a bit of time with them in Los Gatos, at Lake Tahoe, and in Ukiah.
Porter family at the Los Gatos house, about 2000. Left to right—Kent, Rhoda, Karen, Mike, Bernie, and Susie
Mike, 102-year-old mother Rhoda, and sister Susie at Pedro's in Santa Clara. Mike loved going out to lunch with his family. Photo taken by Kent in 2019.
Mike, enjoying the ocean view, on a day trip to Carmel with Kent. March 14, 2024
Mike’s smile and sweet disposition throughout his life, as well as his impressive will-power to cope with adversity, will surely be missed. However, we are happy for him that his suffering is now over.
Mike is survived by his sister Karen MacQueen (husband Dave MacQueen) of Los Gatos, CA, his sister Susan Bruce (husband Chip Bruce) of Wellfleet, MA, his brother Kent Porter (wife Cyndi Smith-Porter) of Oakland, CA, his niece Emily Bruce (daughters Charlotte and Rose Bruce) of Morris MN, his nephew Stephen Bruce of Washington, D.C., and his niece Megan Porter (husband Milan Amin) of Solana Beach, CA. Mike was pre-deceased by his parents Bernard Elliott Porter and Rhoda Porter, both of Los Gatos, CA.
Michael Porter was born in San Jose on October 8, 1951. Mike grew up with his family of six in the hills above Saratoga and Los Gatos. In the late 1940s, his parents, Rhoda and Bernie Porter built an adobe house in an idyllic setting overlooking Hume Canyon and the entire Santa Clara Valley. The home and its environs sheltered the closely-knit Porter family growing up there. They had the freedom to wander the natural setting of the Santa Cruz Mountains, especially Hume Canyon with its lovely SanTomas Aquino Creek.
LG adobe House and patio overlooking Santa Clara Valley, 1950s
Karen, Mike, Susie, Kent (probably Christmas day, 1955)
Karen, Mike, Kent, and Susie in front of living room fireplace, Christmas morning 1957 or 1958.
Kent and Mike in patio at LG house (playing in their own cardboard box house!) About 1956 or 1957.
Mike and Kent cuddling with their Mom Rhoda.
Mike first attended Fruitvale Elementary, then Saratoga Grammar School, and then the relatively new Saratoga High School from which he graduated with the class of 1969. At the high school, Mike excelled as a talented three-sport athlete (basketball, track, and football). He was the starting center on both the Frosh-Soph and Varsity Basketball teams. During his senior year, Mike was a starting free safety and wide receiver for the Saratoga High School football team. After high school, Mike played on the basketball team for West Valley College from where he received his AA degree. Throughout his youth, Mike’s family also marveled at what a graceful and skilled snow skier he became.
Mike (#31) driving for the basket, 1968 during his senior year at SHS
A photo of Mike (#81) catching a pass for a touchdown was featured as a full page background in the 1969 Saratoga High School yearbook.
Skiing with family friends—left to right: Louise Cooper, Barbara Cooper, Rhoda Porter, George Cooper, Mike Porter
Mike's high school graduation photo
Unfortunately, on the doorstep of his adult life while studying for his BA at Sonoma State, Mike was stricken with the still-incurable mental illness of schizophrenia. He lived for almost fifty years in board and care homes in San Jose under the auspices of the Santa Clara County Mental Health Department. During all of those years, his loving family remained loyal to him and Mike was able to spend quite a bit of time with them in Los Gatos, at Lake Tahoe, and in Ukiah.
Porter family at the Los Gatos house, about 2000. Left to right—Kent, Rhoda, Karen, Mike, Bernie, and Susie
Mike, 102-year-old mother Rhoda, and sister Susie at Pedro's in Santa Clara. Mike loved going out to lunch with his family. Photo taken by Kent in 2019.
Mike, enjoying the ocean view, on a day trip to Carmel with Kent. March 14, 2024
Mike’s smile and sweet disposition throughout his life, as well as his impressive will-power to cope with adversity, will surely be missed. However, we are happy for him that his suffering is now over.
Mike is survived by his sister Karen MacQueen (husband Dave MacQueen) of Los Gatos, CA, his sister Susan Bruce (husband Chip Bruce) of Wellfleet, MA, his brother Kent Porter (wife Cyndi Smith-Porter) of Oakland, CA, his niece Emily Bruce (daughters Charlotte and Rose Bruce) of Morris MN, his nephew Stephen Bruce of Washington, D.C., and his niece Megan Porter (husband Milan Amin) of Solana Beach, CA. Mike was pre-deceased by his parents Bernard Elliott Porter and Rhoda Porter, both of Los Gatos, CA.
