Obituaries

Heaven welcomed a new angel on Sunday, June 12, 2022.

Patrick H.B. Porter was born in Los Angeles on June 7, 1952, to a family of writers, artists, readers and theater people. He grew up in Echo Park in the Silverlake area, as an only child with a vivid imagination. He read, drew, created, wrote and was always busy.

In 1963, he attended the first Renaissance Pleasure Faire. The faire impressed Patrick - a lover of history, inspired him to return as a performer and director. He created props and handmade costumes. He created original plays and entertainments. He taught workshops there, and taught living history (in costume!) to the LA city schools. Patrick traveled with fair friends to San Francisco every winter to perform at the Great Dicken’s Christmas fair.

At Los Angeles City College Patrick met many friends with the same interests. He made puppets, proofread, and wrote resumes. His passion for history included the Italian renaissance, England’s Tudor, Elizabethan, and Victorian eras. He loved words and was a voracious reader. He would read backwards without thinking (Latin, French, some Spanish). For a while, he owned a small croissant/coffee shop in downtown LA. Settling in Ferndale in 1990, he wrote and published five books. He continued his passions for theater and teaching, as best as he was able.

Those who knew Patrick well found him to be a kind, gentle soul with a wonderful, and quirky sense of humor. Multi-faceted and talented, he was a true brilliant, renaissance man. He survived by his cat “Monkey” and a friendship with Ellie Green and family that lasted many decades. Heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Renown Medical Center in Reno Nevada, for the care they gave to Patrick.

A celebration of life will be held at the Ferndale Community Church on Sunday, July 17, at 11:45 a.m.