Richard “Dick” Porell, a longtime supporter of Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice passed away on October 10, 2025, in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He was 92.
Porell was born in Connecticut in 1933 and later attended Yale University. He served in the U.S. Army before working for Travelers Insurance Company as an actuary, working in data processing and then programing before working his way to becoming Executive Vice President of Metrahealth, the parent company of Travelers and Metropolitan Life. Upon retirement, Porell and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) moved to Southwest Florida.
While in Southwest Florida, the Porells began a long association with the Diocese of Venice and Catholic Charities. Richard Porell first served as the treasurer of a small mission church and then as the treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Diocese of Venice, and later as treasurer of Catholic Charities. There he mentored the charity leadership.
A believer in the dignity of each person, Porell began work on a housing project for migrant workers in Arcadia and was instrumental getting Casa San Juan Bosco Farmworker Housing community developed. For his effort a street in the community is named in his honor. The couple then turned their focus to helping battered women and women in recovery, purchasing, refurbishing and furnishing several small housing units for them in Southwest Florida.
For their longtime support of Catholic Charities, Richard and Elizabeth Porell were honored with the 2016 Frank Gaelena, Sr. Humanitarian Award during the Venetian Charity Ball in Fort Myers.
Porell is survived by his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth, their six children, many grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Richard Porell is 10 a.m., Nov. 8, 2025, at St. Peter Claver Church in West Harford, Connecticut. This will be followed by a burial at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield.
