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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
PORTER, Russell Victor - Died at age 94 after a brief stay in Dartmouth General Hospital. Russ was adamant that he should stay in his own home, and he achieved that until almost the end.
Russ was born in Centreville, Nova Scotia, the youngest of six children of William and Maude (Wournell) Porter. Centreville, in the Annapolis Valley, was a bustling village, with a train station, barrel maker, apple packer, blacksmith, post office, schoolhouse and general store (where fresh delicious sauerkraut was dispensed into doubled paper bags and could be sampled on the way home). There were many venues where an inquisitive and observant boy could find entertainment, and Russ acquired a great general knowledge.
He left school early and found employment as a welder in the Pictou Shipyard before the end of World War II. He was a steward on the RMS Lady Nelson, which was transporting returning Canadian soldiers and war brides and continued that occupation on the trains for Canadian Pacific. While in Toronto, he accompanied a friend to a Canadian Navy recruiting office, and as a lark, did an interview. The friend was not accepted but Russ was, and that was the start of a twenty-nine-year career as a naval photographer.
While he was posted in Halifax at HMCS Stadacona, he was given a ride by an acquaintance and sat beside a young woman named Isabel Archibald. They were married in 1953 and she happily moved households and three children on all his postings, from bases in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Florida, Montreal, the Netherlands, and Ottawa.
His role as a photographer found him on the flight decks of aircraft carriers, hanging out of Sikorsky helicopters tethered by a monkey tail, and filming a cargo ship rescue in a Grumman tracker. The rescue, taken on a Bell and Howell 16 mm film camera, was aired on a CBC television newscast. The pilot was interviewed and asked - who was the photographer? It was just one of our navy photographers, said the pilot, I don’t know his name. Russ joked that he missed a chance for his fifteen minutes of fame. Later, his assignments included events of state, with admirals, governors-general, prime ministers and even the Queen.
After retiring, Russ and Isabel lived in Dartmouth. They travelled, were active in the church, were close with family, and spent time at their cottage on beautiful Lochaber Lake. Russ loved to garden and would be out until dusk at his home in Dartmouth, tending his many flowers and shrubs. Early on, Russ became adept with computers and chatted with on-line friends when that was a very novel activity. He kept his interest in photography and always had the latest digital models. He had a discerning eye and loved to collect small items, whether it was coffee mugs, jack knives or flashlights. His family often questioned, if one item was good, then why was half a dozen of the same thing even better? After Isabel died and he became increasingly housebound, Amazon came to the rescue, and he could indulge in shopping the world’s markets.
Russ is survived by his daughters Karen Whitehead and Kathy Porter-Cunningham, his son Kevin Porter, sons-in-law Stephen Whitehead and Gregg Cunningham, daughter-in-law Sharron Porter, grandchildren Matthew Whitehead (Lisa Whitehead), Tristan Whitehead (Victoria Coulthart), Elizabeth Whitehead (Noam Ives), Bryan Cunningham (Catherine Cunningham), Ainsley Cunningham (Jack Wong), great-grandchildren Henry Whitehead, Veronica Whitehead, Adeline Whitehead, Cabot Ives, Isaac Whitehead and Thomas Cunningham, brother-in-law Eldon Taylor, sisters-in-law Olive Archibald, Marilyn Archibald and Pat McLean, and numerous nieces and nephews in the Archibald and Porter families. To his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he will be fondly remembered as Ba.
The family is profoundly grateful to Kim Morton, who provided caregiver services for Russ and Isabel starting thirteen years ago and continued to provide essential support to Russ until the day he died. Without Kim, Russ could never have achieved his desire to stay at home as long as he did. We also want to thank all the nurses, doctors and staff on the 4th floor of Dartmouth General Hospital for their care and kindness over the last difficult few weeks. We are truly grateful.
Russ requested no funeral service. There will be an interment of Russ and Isabel’s ashes at a later date. If desired, donations may be made to the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation, Iona Presbyterian Church or Evergreen Cemetery, St. Mary’s, NS. (Arbourmemorial.ca)
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her. And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone," there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
And that is dying...
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