RAYA PORTER

Porter, Raya (Rachel)

Of Newtonville, Mass., formerly of Kiev, Ukraine, Raya (Rachel) Porter died on November 24, 2017 at age 57, after a long battle with metastasized colon cancer. For six years, beloved wife of Dr. Jack Nusan Porter of Newtonville, Mass; adored and loving mother to Sveta  (Roman) Kogut of Kiev, Ukraine; loving grandma to little Vanya; devoted daughter of Katarina Teshena, an economist, of Borispol, near Kiev and the late Vasilii Teshen, a pharmacist.

Raya (Rachel) Porter was a gynecologist in Ukraine before coming to America in 2004. She was a graduate of Kiev University Medical School. In America, however, she worked as a home care assistant. Her husband is a sociologist and research associate at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University.

Raya and Jack met a few days before her birthday, October 4, in 2011; they were fixed up by her girlfriend, Mila, Porter’s next door neighbor. Porter turned out to be her “birthday present”. It was instant love and admiration. She was a tall, green-eyed blond and Porter was a slightly shorter, balding sociologist, and though born in Rovno, Ukraine, was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Raya leaves legions of grieving friends. Her warmth, her concern for others, and her excellent advice will be missed by many.  We would like to thank the doctors, nurses, social workers, and staff at Dana Farber, Brigham’s and Women, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and the Stanley Tippet Hospice in Needham, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the above places. Her remains were donated to the Harvard Medical School.

People will gather at the home of Sonya and Gregory Kharaponovich at 73 West Street in Nonantum (Newton) Mass. at 12 noon, Sunday, November 26 for a memorial.

Shiva will be held at Dr. Porter’s home in Newtonville on Walnut Street on Sunday, November 26 between 6-8 PM_and on Monday between 6-8 PM.   Contact Dr. Porter at (617) 965-8388 or .

Arrangements made by Wm. F. Spencer Funeral Service,
575 E. Broadway in South Boston. Tel No. (617) 268-0855.