Richard Lee Porus

Richard L. Porus left his remarkable life just as he lived it—on his own terms, and with a fierce independence. He died at the age of 95, on July 22, 2024, at his home in Portland, Oregon, where he lived independently until his death.

Richard was born on July 1, 1929 to Max and Eve Porus of Cleveland, OH. He and his younger sister Merna grew up in University Heights, where Max practiced dentistry. Richard attended Cleveland Heights High School (1947), then (ever the overachiever!) earned Bachelor’s (1952), dental (1954) and medical (1958) degrees from Case Western Reserve University. He married Marcia Belle Lubeck, the sweet girl down the street, in 1957; they were together for 40 years. He became a father to two daughters, Gwen and Marcy, in 1960 and 1962.

Richard was a brilliant, complicated man who lived with sky-high expectations of himself, pursuing excellence in all he attempted. Once he moved his family to the Pacific Northwest in 1963, he pursued physical challenges he never chased as a youth, spending as much time as possible in the woods, mountains, and wilderness areas he came to love. He downhill-skied, backpacked, ran marathons, and long-distance bicycled for decades, leading his family on many adventures. He coaxed Gwen and Marcy as children up steep trails with the promise of a lemon drop, and dispensed cups of hot cocoa to us, still cozy in our sleeping bags, through tent flaps on chilly backpacking mornings.

Richard practiced medicine in Seattle for 22 years, retiring at the age of 56 in order to spend more time in the outdoors. With Marcia as a supportive and (mostly) willing participant, they completed numerous bicycle trips through the magnificent landscapes of the western US and Canada in the 1980’s and 90’s. He took up running in his 40’s, ultimately completing at least five marathons; heli-skied in the Canadian Rockies; and backpacked whenever time allowed.

Richard left Seattle for Tucson in 2000, where he began a new life chapter free from rainy weather and city life. He came to love the desert southwest, became a Master bridge player, continued biking, and kept company with loyal sidekick Earl, the yellow lab. Earl and Richard moved on to central California in 2005, where they resided in Cayucos and Cambria, and learned to love beach hikes. He joined a senior bicycling group dubbed “Team Medicare,” which met regularly for coastal rides and coffee. In 2010, at ages 81 and 17 respectively, Richard and grandson Max made memories bicycling the Big Sur coastline. While in California, Richard also parlayed his lifelong enthusiasm for and deep knowledge of all things wine into a part-time job as “senior” wine taster at Talley Vineyards, in San Luis Obispo. 

Richard’s final chapter began in 2015, when at the age of 86 he packed up his blue Honda and relocated to Portland, Oregon, to be closer to family. He found a wonderful new home at the Beverly Apartments, in Gwen and son-in-law Terrence’s neighborhood, and resumed hiking--- often solo, despite Gwen’s misgivings! His favorite hikes were located in nearby Forest Park and the Columbia River Gorge, which he accessed in the Honda he continued to pilot ably until his death. Gwen and Miles the golden retriever were honored to accompany him on many occasions, Gwen being the youngest, but not necessarily the fastest, hiker of the three. Miles and Richard continued hiking into their 90’s (dog years are estimated). While living in Portland, Richard was able to connect regularly with granddaughter Sophie, who taught him how to use an iPhone, and often dazzled him with her online dating adventures. 

As his world narrowed due to age and pandemic, Richard honed his bridge skills online, competing with human and robot players---even winning a number of tournaments. He still enjoyed classical music, wine tasting, and chatting with grandsons Charlie and Eli via text about all things sports, especially their beloved Seattle teams, the Seahawks and Mariners. Politically astute, insightful, and intellectually sharp, he often conversed with Marcy about the state of the changing world, always injecting the wisdom and perspective gained over his many years on earth. He stayed up to date on his vaccinations, wore a mask religiously, and never did contract Covid.

Richard’s final life project, and one for which we will always be grateful, was learning to write memoir and flash fiction, beginning in 2016. He was mentored and supported by writing teachers and friends in Portland, applying himself with customary rigor to this new endeavor. He ultimately published four collections of short essays about his life, which now serve as an enduring legacy to his children and grandchildren. A man of many talents and contradictions, Richard did not readily express his innermost thoughts or emotions, but he left us his beautifully crafted stories. 

Richard lived, and taught us, the values of honesty, responsibility, a strong work ethic, love of family and wilderness, and the importance of physical fitness. He will be missed. Richard is survived by his sister Merna Wolfe of Beechwood, OH; former wife Marcia Lubeck Porus of Seattle; daughters Gwen Porus (Terrence Conlon) of Portland, OR, and Marcy Porus-Gottlieb of Seattle; grandchildren Max and Sophie Conlon, and Charlie and Eli Gottlieb; and friends in Seattle, Arizona, California and Portland. He was predeceased by his parents Eve and Max Porus.

Richard’s wish was to be returned to remote places in the woods and mountains, where he felt most at peace. As of this writing, his ashes have been scattered at remote mountain lakes among wildflowers; beside a rushing river; near a favorite seaside trail on Whidbey Island, Washington; and at the summits of six of the highest peaks of the Teton Range of Wyoming---the last by Max, in whom Richard’s passion for big wilderness challenges lives on. 

No service is planned, but donations may be made in Richard’s memory to the Forest Park Conservancy, or to Friends of the Columbia Gorge.