Les Porter:  

Leslie Earl Porter died peacefully at the Masonic Home in Utica, New York on April 23, 2024. Les was born on August 29, 1937 to Alton Joel Porter and Ruby Pearl Leslie in Ogdensburg, NY. A 1956 graduate of Ogdensburg Free Academy, Les served as senior class president, quarterback of the varsity football team and played basketball, competing throughout the “North Country.” He grew up near the Saint Lawrence River and loved fishing, ice fishing, duck hunting and boating. After graduating from high school, Les took a job with the New York Telephone Company where he advanced from climbing poles to senior management over his more than 30-year career. The job brought him to Oneida County where he made his home first in Rome, then in Grant, and finally and most fondly in “Remsen City, USA.” Remsen, is where he devoted much time and energy to serving the community, first joining the Remsen Volunteer Fire Department in 1968. He was a member of the Remsen Central School Board of Education for 15 years, serving as board president from 1974 until 1976. From 1982 until 1989 he served as Remsen Town Supervisor. In 2017 he ended a 26-year run as Oneida County Legislator representing District 6. There he chaired the Ways and Means Committee and maintained close ties to the towns and villages he served. A favorite expression was “people helping people.” In the early 1970s Les helped bring national country music acts to the Remsen Firemen’s Field Days and later often served as Master of Ceremonies at the Boonville Fair. An auctioneer since his youth, he donated his services to several charity auctions annually. Les was a Mason and a member of the Twitchell Creek Hunting Club. Penny, his beloved wife of 52 years was always by his side. They met while working for New York Tel and married in 1972 in Whitesboro, NY. Together they operated a part-time auctioneering business for decades. He was most proud of his seven children—three daughters with Penny and his four eldest with former wife, Patricia Boak (neé Mullady); 18 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Les loved Christmas and kept the model train on the tracks under the tree for many years. He pitched tents and later towed a camper through the Adirondacks and along 
the Saint Lawrence Seaway. He pulled toboggan loads of ...Expand for more