William Phillips Porter

February 7, 1930 – February 10, 2020

William Phillips Porter died peacefully under hospice care at Broward Hospital, with family gathered, following a significant stroke on his 90th birthday.  He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Barbara W. Porter who died in 2014.  A 30-year resident of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Bill continued to spend portions of each year in Mt. Kisco, NY and Guilford, CT visiting with family.  

The eldest of two children, Bill often quipped that he was conceived in the Roaring 20’s and birthed in the Great Depression; the hallmarks of thrift, self-reliance and doing without were second nature as a result.  His parents, Harold Hill Porter and Marion Phillips Porter, both steeped in generational history from Salem MA, moved to Derby, CT where Bill spent his early years.  Distinctly positive memories involved time in Leete’s Island, Guilford CT where he and his Dad worked together building a cabin,which has been the foundation for three generations of happy family events.  

A ’51 graduate of Tufts University NROTC program, Bill earned his ME degree with distinction and was commissioned Ensign and sent to the USS Borie 704.  After 1.5 years on the destroyer he enrolled in Submarine School, where he graduated first in class; he later finished first in his qualification exam, with a remarkable 3-bell landing. Bill’s love of boating lasted a lifetime and his family benefitted from his skilled boat handling on numerous vacation trips tothe Florida Keys, Long Island Sound and Block Island.  

A Korean War era veteran, he took advantage of the GI Tuition bill and enrolled in Wharton Business School after talking his way into the program without taking a required entrance exam.  Three months into the program, however, he took the exam and got a 99% so the admissions chair felt vindicated.  Graduating with distinction in 1956, Bill took his highest paid offer ($6,500/year) and began a lifetime career at International Business Machines (IBM) in finance.  

Bill rose swiftly through the finance ranks at IBM, known for always wearing the same suit (“gray paint” his colleagues called it) and for his financial acumen.  After becoming the Comptroller of the Research Division, he also became notorious for independent thinking and bucking the system, when he insisted on holding up and improving a reorganization championed by Thomas Watson, the then CEO of IBM.  Bill then spent the balance of his IBM career off the regular track as an in-house truth-teller in the financial planning ranks.

After retiring from IBM, Bill invested half of his life savings to purchase (with two partners) the debt of a CT marina company in bankruptcy. Working in a small business on his own was more to Bill’s liking, as he fully engaged in turning the marina business around.  In winters, Bill enjoyedkeeping the books of his son’s small business “ship-shape.” Blessed with an analytic mind, he was a clear thinker -- something he demanded of everyone else around him too. Bill was an avid reader, problem solver, and loved the Boston Pops.

A family man to the core, Bill’s life work was to provide for his wife and children, and he achieved every financial goal through hard work and thrift.  Boats were his weakness though -- Bill always had to have a boat (and often more than one).  His happiest moments were out on his boats, surrounded by his family and their friends.  Sipping a Yellow Bird at sunset on the water with the chatter of family was heaven on earth for Bill.

William P. Porter is survived by his four children: William P.Porter, Jr. and his wife Leanne of Ft. Lauderdale, FL;Richard W. Porter and his wife Lydia of Northfield, IL;Stephen B. Porter and his wife Cay White of Mt. Kisco, NY;and Deborah Porter Safford and her husband John of South Hamilton, MA.  He also leaves behind 12 beloved Grandchildren and one Great Grandchild: William P. Porter III, his wife Mara and their son Owen William Porter, Lane Porter, Kyle Porter, Alexander Porter, Andrew Porter, Jack Porter, Katie Porter, Brace Porter, Glynnis Porter, Thomas Safford, Matthew Safford and Rosie Safford.  His brother, Robert P. Porter and his wife Judy (Wilmington NC) and their daughters Kimberly and Amanda, also survive Bill.  He also leaves many friends affiliated with his condo, cottage and boating worlds.

Due to the pandemic and travel restrictions the memorial service was postponed until further notice. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested be made in his name to the Music Program at Christ Episcopal Church, or to a charity of your choice.