Francis J. Porter

Francis J. Porter, 89, of No. Main St., Fall River, formerly of 635 So. Main St. and 34 Whipple St., died Sunday, January 1, 2006 at Sarah S. Brayton Nursing Care Center. A lifelong resident of Fall River, he was the son of the late Joseph and Grace (Whalen) Porter. A graduate of BMC Durfee High School, Class of 1934 and popular and accomplished pianist, he was a student of the late M. Alma Gagnon Canuel. He played piano in the orchestras of the Henry Lord Junior High School and Durfee High School where he also played the double bass and tympani and also played the Durfee Theater's huge Marr and Coltan organ for school graduations. Mr. Porter played the Frontenac Club, the Swansea Grange, the New Bedford Hotel rooftop, the Eagle Restaurant and the Polish bands, the Zmuda's and Stakiowski's. For many years he played in Newport at the Commissioned Officers' Club, the Reading Room and the Clam Bake Club. He played solo for Mrs. Firestone and Mrs. Hugh Auchincloss for many of their parties and also at the Breakers with the Lou Vaillancourt Orchestra, for President and Mrs. Kennedy and King Constantine and Queen Ann Marie of Greece. In 1957 he wrote a jingle for an Ed Sullivan Show contest and won a new car, a Mercury. A great theater devotee, he loved photography and possessed an encyclopedic mind on songs and their lyrics and was a great advocate of the arts. Survivors include 3 nieces and a nephew. He was the brother of the late Ruth Henry. His funeral will be held Thursday at 7:30 AM from the AUCLAIR FUNERAL HOME, 690 So. Main St., Fall River, with a funeral mass in Holy Name Church at 8:30. Burial, St. Patrick Cemetery. Calling hours Wednesday 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Donations may be made to Durfee Band Aids, 360 Elsbree St., Fall River MA 02720.