Submitted by: Dan Rich

Lee N. Porter

Oct. 25, 1934 - Jan. 14, 2001

South Bend Tribune 1/16/2001

Lee N. Porter, 66, of South Bend, Ind., died after an illness on Sunday, Jan. 14th, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. Mr. Porter was born in South Bend on Oct. 25, 1934, to the late Earl and Ruby (Korn) Porter.

He is survived by his wife, Maria, who he married on Nov. 23, 1978; three daughters, Sandra (John) Tiffany of South Bend, Barbara (Timothy) Kujawski of Edwardsburg, Mich., and Nikki Porter of Elkhart, Ind.; a son, Todd Porter of Michigan City; two stepsons, Marc (Maria) Simon of Bowling Green, Ohio, and John-Paul (Thu) Simon of Antananarivo, Madagascar; 12 grandchildren, Andrew ("Mooskie") Tiffany, Joey Tiffany, Matthew Tiffany, Kelly Kujawski, Laura Kujawski, Aimee Porter, Lindsay Porter, Michael Porter, Anne Marie Simon, Genevieve Simon, Martin Simon, Louis Hoang-Simon; and by one great-grandson, Jay ("Bud") Fitzpatrick. Also surviving are two sisters, Doris (William) King and Irene (James) Houchin; one brother, Floyd (Paula) Porter, all of South Bend; a niece and a nephew; and by an aunt, Alice Porter of New Carlisle, Ind.

Mr. Porter graduated from New Carlisle High School, Indiana Central University (University of Indianapolis), and Indiana University, Bloomington. He retired in June 1999 after 38 years with the South Bend Community School Corporation, eight years as a teacher at South Bend Clay and Darden, and 30 years as an elementary school administrator at Muessel, Swanson, and the last 17 years as a principal at Harrison School in South Bend. He distinguished himself as a principal who had great personal integrity, was innovative, fair, willing to listen and change, dedicated to students and teachers. His contributions toward bilingual and African-American children are well known on the West Side and throughout the School Corporation. For the past year and a half Mr. Porter was a part-time addiction educator at Mason Center's Quiet Care.

Mr. Porter was inducted into the South Bend Community Hall of Fame in November 1999. He was appointed by Mayor Steve Luecke as a commissioner on the South Bend Human Rights Commission where he served since 1998, was president of the board of El Campito from 1984- 90, a member of the Kiwanis Club from 1969- 1980, Phi Delta Kappa since 1969, a life member of the Indiana Parent Teacher Association, and was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 26 years.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 S. Bendix Drive, South Bend. Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, in the funeral home. Rev. Mary Hubbard of Central United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, South Bend. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michiana CSO Office, 814 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46617.