PLEASE NOTE: SUNDAY VISITATION IS NOW 2:00 to 6:00 P.M.

Dr. William J. Porell, of Bedford, MA, formerly of Winchester, MA,
died peacefully of natural causes. He was 92 years old.

He leaves his beloved wife of 57 years Alice C. Porell of Bedford, son John Porell and his spouse Leslie Arnott of Jamaica Plain, son Robert L. Porell and his spouse Gabriele Tonini of New York, NY, daughter Ann McGoldrick and her spouse Jeff McGoldrick of Reading, MA, son Tom Porell and his spouse Chris Porell of Littleton, MA, and daughter Sarah Porell and her spouse Shelley Fried of Brookline, MA. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Megan, Michael, and Molly McGoldrick and Elizabeth, Caroline, and Thomas Porell, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

Born in Haverhill, MA, the only child of the late William Isaiah and Corinne Porell, Bill graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1941 and attended Harvard College, class of 1945. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1947. During and following medical school, he served in the U. S. Army (1943-1946). He continued his military service in the Air Force Reserve from 1950-1953, and then in the Air National Guard and Army Medical Corps until 1983, from which he retired at the rank of Colonel.

Dedicated to a lifetime of service, Bill helped countless numbers of people as a physician. His private surgical practice stretched from 1959 to 1980, with a principal affiliation at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. He served as Chief of Surgery at both Northeastern University Hospital and the Chelsea Memorial Hospital, and was a Surgical Consultant to the Mass General Hospital. Upon retiring from private practice, he joined the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Manchester, NH, and finally worked as a physician and consultant at Raytheon Corp. until his retirement from medicine in December 2010. During his career, Bill was also a team doctor in the athletic departments of both Harvard and Northeastern universities, and at the Belmont Hill School.

The great love of Bill's life was his family, especially his wife, Alice, whom he adored. To the end, Bill delighted in the sparkle of her eyes and the warmth of her spirit. They shared a fantastic life's journey. He loved being surrounded by his children and grandchildren, laughing at their antics, basking in their achievements, and tirelessly supporting their interests, passions, and loves.

A man of grace, charm, and warmth, Bill enjoyed a wide circle of friends. He loved meeting new people. His passions included tennis, golf, sailing, and the performing arts. He was a talented pianist.

His is a legacy of service, laughter, faith, and love. He leaves this world a better place for his having been here.

Visitation will be held at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford, on Sunday, November 22 from 2:00-6:00 P.M. A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford, on Monday, November 23, at 10:30 A.M. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Winchester.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Sancta Maria Nursing Facility 799 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, where Bill was so lovingly cared for in the last years of his life. Donations can also be made to The Wounded Warrior Project.